There are no vital and significant forms of art; there is only art, and precious little of that.

The dilemma of the critic has always been that if he knows enough to speak with authority, he knows too much to speak with detachment.

The publishers and others should quit worrying about losing customers to TV. The guy who can sit through a trio of deodorant commercials to look at Flashgun Casey or swallow a flock of beer and loan-shark spiels in order to watch a couple of fourth-rate club fighters rub noses on the ropes is not losing any time from book reading.

I said something which gave you to think I hated cats. But gad, sir, I am one of the most fanatical cat lovers in the business. If you hate them, I may learn to hate you. If your allergies hate them, I will tolerate the situation to the best of my ability.

The girl gave him a look which ought to have stuck at least four inches out of his back.

Let us never accept the point of view that mysteries are written by hacks. The poorest of us shed our blood over every chapter. The best of us start from scratch with every new book.

One would think a writer would be happy here — if a writer is ever happy anywhere.