"I consider sex a misdemeanor. The more I miss, de…

“I consider sex a misdemeanor. The more I miss, de meaner I get” (or “Sex is a misdemeanor. De more I miss de meaner I get”) is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. “Sex is a misdemeanor—the More I Miss De Meaner I Get”—a T-shirt saying—was printed in the Reno (NV) Evening Gazette on September 11, 1981.“You’re reminded of the T-shirt a bearded biker was wearing at the Indy 500: ‘Sex is a Misdemeaner—De More I Miss, De Meaner I Get’” was printed in the Dallas (TX) Morning News on June 4, 1982.

“‘I consider sex a misdemeanor, the more I miss, de meaner I get.’-Mae West” was posted on the newsgroup ba.mountain-folk on November 16, 2003. However, there is no evidence that Brooklyn-born actress, singer, playwright, screenwriter, comedian, and sex symbol Mae West (1893-1980) ever said it.

11 September 1981, Reno (NV) Evening Gazette, “Hangin’ Out” by Guy Richardson, Entertainment sec., pg. 3, col. 1:
T-Shirterry: Mae Mylott at the Bonanza spotted a fellow in her gift shop wearing “Sex is a misdemeanor—the More I Miss De Meaner I Get.” Said she, “I laughed so I forgot to ask him where he got it.”

31 May 1982, Indianapolis (IN) Star, “Inhibitions vanish as ‘pit crew cuts loose for a day” by Deborah Pines, pg. 12, col. 2:
A military man from Fort Knox replaced his uniform with a T-shjrt announcing: “Sex Is a Misdemeanor. The More I Miss, The Meaner I Get.”

4 June 1982, Dallas (TX) Morning News, “Not tonight, I have to box” by David Casstevens, pg. 1B, col. 1:
You’re reminded of the T-shirt a bearded biker was wearing at the Indy 500: “Sex is a Misdemeaner—De More I Miss, De Meaner I Get.”

3 July 1982, Atlanta (GA) Journal-Constitution, Ron Hudspeth column, pg. 1-B, col. 1:
TODAY’S BUMPER STICKER housecleaning: (...) And from Mrs. Betty Alhadeff: “Sex Is A Misdemeanor, De More I Miss De Meaner I Get.”

9 September 1982, Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, AR), “Spry 68-year-old provides anecdotes, interesting view of life after retirement” by pg. 1B, col. 3:
KEO—Gaines Turner is bona fide, certified, U.S. government-inspected Grade A fun to talk to.

Take, for example, his baseball-sized cap, which doesn’t speak but has a message of its own: “Sex is a misdemeanor. De more I miss de meaner I get.”

13 January 1986, Toronto (ON) Star, “Readers spot more signs to keep you smiling” by George Gamester, pg. A2:
SEX IS A MISDEMEANOR, adds Harry McLean of Don Mills. DE MORE I MISS, DE MEANER I GET.

Google Groups: rec.food.cooking
African Cuisine??
Anne P. Mitchell JD
6/30/92
(...)
Sex is a misdemeanor - the more I miss, de meaner I get.

Google Groups: ba.mountain-folk
Bear Creek Fatalities
Queenie
11/16/03
(...)
“I consider sex a misdemeanor, the more I miss, de meaner I get.”
-Mae West

9 October 2004, Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland), “I don’t try to be a sex bomb ..I AM one” by Bob Shields, pg. 8:
I consider sex a misdemeanour, the more I miss de meaner I get - Mae West.

Twitter
⭐️JenOfEve 💙 💛
@Jen_Of_Eve
I consider sex a misdemeanor, the more i miss, de meaner i get!—the infamous Mae West said it best!
4:09 AM - 16 Mar 2009

Google Books
A Laugh a Day Will Keep the Doctor Away!
By Jack V. Grazi
Xlibris Corporation (Xlibris.com)
2010
Pg. 156:
“I consider sex a misdemeanor, the more I miss de meaner I get”

Google Books
The Snark Handbook: Sex Edition:
Innuendo, Irony, and Ill-Advised Insults on Intimacy
By Lawrence Dorfman
New York, NY: SKyhorse Publishing
2011
Pg. ?:
Mae West
I consider sex a misdemeanor; the more I miss, de meaner I get.

Twitter
She May - She May Not
@thepaulahunt
My mother used to to say “Sex is a misdemeanor. De more I miss, de meaner I get.”
8:51 PM - 8 Mar 2018

Twitter
Kakistocracy In America
@TomKolovosTKO
“I consider sex is a misdemeanor. The more I miss, de meaner I get”—#maewest .......#aproposofnothing #wednesdaywisdom #blowmymind #blowback #blowyourbrainsout #magaismurder #trumptransnationalcrimesyndicate… https://www.instagram.com/p/BzvCQOMF3zI/?igshid=1wymragyjv5zi …
7:46 AM - 10 Jul 2019 from Chicago, IL