Being broke is not a disgrace, it is only a catastrophe.

The only two kinds of books could earn an American writer a living are cookbooks and detective novels.

I have a strong moral sense - by my standards.

Sometimes it's things that take the joy out of life, like a blowout when you're hitting sixty or a button coming off of a shirt when you're in a hurry, but usually it's people.

Labels are for the things men make, not for men. The most primitive man is too complex to be labeled.

I think the detective story is by far the best upholder of the democratic doctrine in literature. I mean, there couldn't have been detective stories until there were democracies, because the very foundation of the detective story is the thesis that if you're guilty you'll get it in the neck and if you're innocent you can't possibly be harmed. No matter who you are.

As I understand it, a born executive is a guy who, when anything difficult or unexpected happens, yells for somebody to come and help him.