I, myself, was always recognized . . . as the “slow one” in the family. It was quite true, and I knew it and accepted it. Writing and spelling were always terribly difficult for me. My letters were without originality. I was . . . an extraordinarily bad speller and have remained so until this day.

There is no detective in England equal to a spinster lady of uncertain age with plenty of time on her hands.

Very few of us are what we seem.

To put it quite crudely ... the poor don't really know how the rich live, and the rich don't know how the poor live, and to find out is really enchanting to both of them.

Writers are diffident creatures -- they need encouragement.

The first time you do a thing is always exciting.

The supernatural is only the natural of which the laws are not yet understood.