More Random Criminous Quotes

"Misdirection, then, is the first fundamental principle of deception. The other two—and they are all used by magicians, criminals, and detective story authors alike—are Imitation and Concealment. Understand how these principles operate, and you should be able to solve any trick, crime, or detective story."

"My studies in criminology have suggested to me that only generals, Harley Street specialists and mine-owners can get away with murder successfully."

"The basic formula is this: a murder occurs; many are suspected; all but one suspect, who is the murderer, are eliminated; the murderer is arrested or dies."

"The trouble with letting it all hang out was the difficulty of stuffing it all back in."

"I can discover facts, Watson, but I cannot change them."

"We all know it's pulp. Now let's treat it as if it were a masterpiece."

"They'll tell you that the most destructive force in the world is hate. Don't you believe it, lad. It's love. And if you want to make a detective you'd better learn to recognize it when you meet it."

"The criminal is the creative artist; the detective only the critic."

   "Now, Major Metcalf, what about you? You say you were in the cellar. Why?"
   "Looking around. Just looking around. I looked into that cupboard place under the stairs near the kitchen. Lots of junk and sports tackle. And I noticed there was another door inside it, and I opened it and saw a flight of steps. I was curious and I went down. Nice cellars you've got."
   "Glad you like them."

"I am not a policeman. I am a private detective. I entrap criminals, and find evidence to imprison them or kill them, for hire."

"Ordinarily I'd spar for time, but in this case I'm afraid time is our enemy, Della. We're going to have to walk into court with all the assurance in the world and pull a very large rabbit out of a very small hat."

"There are a lot of people who haven't got the brains for their college educations."

"Love is eternal. It has been the strongest motivation for human actions throughout history. Love is stronger than life. It reaches beyond the dark shadow of death."

"Regard with distrust all circumstances which seem to favor our secret desires."

 "Digestion should be considered BEFORE a meal."

"Death is an incurable disease that men and women are born with; it gets them sooner or later. A murderer never really kills; he but anticipates."

"We build castles in the air, and sometimes we put foundations under them."

"A figure, gowned and masked in green, stood in the doorway, watching her; with something gleaming evilly in its gloved right hand."

"Horse sense is the instinct that keeps horses from betting on men."

"To me an anomalous fact—a fact which appears unconnected, or even discordant with the body of known facts—is precisely the one on which attention should be focussed."

Category: Detective fiction