I love to make a mistake. It is my only assurance that I cannot reasonably be expected to assume the responsibility of omniscience.

Every Sherlock Holmes story has at least one marvelous scene.

A Dickens character to me is a theatrical projection of a character. Not that it isn't real. It's real, but in that removed sense. But Sherlock Holmes is simply there. I would be astonished if I went to 221½ B Baker Street and didn't find him.

All my important decisions are made for me by my subconscious. My frontal lobes are just kidding themselves that they decide anything at all. All they do is think up reasons for the decisions that are already made.

As a professional writer of detective stories, I string along with the ballplayers. I love a ball game.

Subtlety chases the obvious up a never-ending spiral and never quite catches it.

I have a strong moral sense - by my standards.