There is no question of defence. I have always acted in accordance with the dictates of my conscience. I have nothing with which to reproach myself.

These little grey cells. It is up to them.

No, my friend, I am not drunk. I have just been to the dentist, and need not return for another six months! Is it not the most beautiful thought? --Poirot

Nobody believes in magicians any more, nobody believes that anyone can come along and wave a wand and turn you into a frog. But if you read in the paper that by injecting certain glands scientists can alter your vital tissues and you'll develop froglike characteristics, well, everybody would believe that.

The best time to plan a book is while you're doing the dishes.

It's so much nicer to be a secret and delightful sin to anybody than to be a feather in his cap.

In old days the public didn't really mind much about accuracy, but nowadays readers take it upon themselves to write to authors on every possible occasion, pointing out flaws.