The average detective story is probably no worse than the average novel, but you never see the average novel. It doesn't get published. The average -- or only slightly above average -- detective story does.... Whereas the good novel is not at all the same kind of book as the bad novel. It is about entirely different things. But the good detective story and the bad detective story are about exactly the same things, and they are about them in very much the same way.

Throw up into your typewriter every morning. Clean up every noon.

I knew one thing: as soon as anyone said you didn't need a gun, you'd better take one along that worked.

You can't have everything, even in California

When the plot flags, bring in a man with a gun.

I was neat, clean, shaved and sober and I didn't care who knew it.

An artist cannot deny art, nor would he want to. A lover cannot deny love.