Too much mercy... often resulted in further crimes which were fatal to innocent victims who need not have been victims if justice had been put first and mercy second.

It's like all those quiet people, when they do lose their tempers they lose them with a vengeance.

I would like it to be said that I was a good writer of detective and thriller stories.

I have always been so sure - too sure... But now I am very humble and I say like a little child: "I do not know..."

Writers are diffident creatures -- they need encouragement.

I looked at her. Sheila was my girl--the girl I wanted--and wanted for keeps. But it wasn't any use having illusions about her. Sheila was a liar and probably always would be a liar. It was her way of fighting for survival--the quick easy glib denial. It was a child's weapon--and she'd probably never got out of using it. If I wanted Sheila, I must accept her as she was--be at hand to prop up the weak places. We've all got our weak places. Mine were different from Sheila's, but they were there.

Everyone likes talking about himself. - Hercule Poirot