When you write, you want fame, fortune and personal satisfaction. You want to write what you want to write and feel it's good, and you want this to go on for hundreds of years. You're not likely ever to get all these things, and you're not likely to give up writing and commit suicide if you don't, but that is -- and should be -- your goal. Anything else is kind of piddling.

I haven't laughed so much over anything since the hogs ate my kid brother.

To get what he wanted, a man had to give other people what they wanted.

Who shot him? I asked. The grey man scratched the back of his neck and said: Somebody with a gun.

The truth is you don't like the theater except the times when you're in a room by yourself putting the play on paper.

Listen, Dundy, it's been a long time since I burst into tears because a policeman didn't like me.

Yes,' Spade growled. 'And when you're slapped you'll take it and like it.' He released Cairo's wrist and with a thick open hand struck the side of his face three times savagely.