Every man should have aunts. They illustrate the triumph of guess work over logic.

One must accept the fact that we have only one companion in this world, a companion who accompanies us from the cradle to the grave - our own self. Get on good terms with that companion - learn to live with yourself.

I always think loyalty's such a tiresome virtue.

But surely for everything you love you have to pay some price.

Poirot," I said. "I have been thinking." "An admirable exercise my friend. Continue it.

Vous eprouves trop d'emotion, Hastings, It affects your hands and your wits. Is that a way to fold a coat? And regard what you have done to my pyjamas. If the hairwash breaks what will befall them?' 'Good heavens, Poirot,' I cried, 'this is a matter of life and death. What does it matter what happens to our clothes?' 'You have no sense of proportion Hastings. We cannot catch a train earlier than the time that it leaves, and to ruin one's clothes will not be the least helpful in preventing a murder.

In my experience, people who go about looking for trouble usually find it.