And, of course, afterwards -- one always hears these things afterwards, so much better if one heard them before -- we found out that dozens of empty brandy bottles were taken out of the house every week!

Authors were shy, unsociable creatures, atoning for their lack of social aptitude by inventing their own companions and conversations.

... there are many to whom money has no personal appeal, but who can be tempted by the power it confers.

I've a theory that one can always get anything one wants if one will pay the price. And do you know what the price is, nine times out of ten? Compromise.

From an early age I knew very strongly the lust to kill.

The point is that one's got an instinct to live. One doesn't live because one's reason assents to living. People who, as we say, 'would be better dead' don't want to die! People who apparently have everything to live for just let themselves fade out of life because they haven't got the energy to fight.

In conversation, points arise! If a human being converses much, it is impossible for him to avoid the truth! (Hercule Poirot)