The urge to write one's autobiography, so I have been told, overtakes everyone sooner or later.

The truth, however ugly in itself, is always curious and beautiful to seekers after it.

Never go back to a place where you have been happy. Until you do it remains alive for you. If you go back it will be destroyed.

I have often had occasion to notice how, where a direct question would fail to elicit a response, a false assumption brings instant information in the form of a contradiction.

Hercule Poirot: I am an imbecile. I see only half of the picture. Miss Lemon: I don't even see that.

the detective's highest talent lay in the gentle art of seeking favours under the guise of conferring them!

The human mind prefers to be spoon-fed with the thoughts of others, but deprived of such nourishment it will, reluctantly, begin to think for itself - and such thinking, remember, is original thinking and may have valuable results.