I once knew a man who stole a Ferris Wheel.

What I try to do is write a story about a detective rather than a detective story. Keeping the reader fooled until the last, possible moment is a good trick and I usually try to play it, but I can't attach more than secondary importance to it. The puzzle isn't so interesting to me as the behavior of the detective attacking it.

Joel Cairo: You always have a very smooth explanation ready. Sam Spade: What do you want me to do, learn to stutter?

I distrust a man that says when. If he's got to be careful not to drink to much it's because he's not to be trusted when he does.

I found I was repeating myself. It is the beginning of the end when you discover you have style.

You got to look on the bright side, even if there ain't one.

If you have a story that seems worth telling, and you think you can tell it worthily, then the thing for you to do is to tell it, regardless of whether it has to do with sex, sailors or mounted policemen.