167 Quotes by Dashiell Hammett

It’s tough, him getting it like that. Miles had his faults same as the rest of us, but I guess he must’ve had some good points too.

Gilbert said: “I read somewhere that when habitual criminals are accused of things they didn’t do – even little things – they’re much more upset by it than other people would be. Do you think that’s so, Mr. Charles?” “It’s likely.

Listen, Dundy, it’s been a long time since I burst into tears because a policeman didn’t like me.

I said: ‘All right, talk, but do you mind putting the gun away? My wife doesn’t care, but I’m pregnant.

You’re good. You’re very good. It’s chiefly your eyes, I think, and that throb you get into your voice when you say things like ‘Be generous, Mr. Spade.

He came over to see her, so he said. She didn’t go home last night and he thought she was still here.” She laughed. “He wasn’t surprised at not finding her, though. He said she was always wandering off somewhere, she has dromomania, which comes from a mother fixation and is very interesting. He said Stekel claims people who have it usually show kleptomaniac impulses too, and he’s left things around to see if she’d steal them, but she never has yet that he knows of.

She’s being stupid and she’s sure she’s being very clever, and that’s a nuisance, but I don’t think I hate her.

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.

What was that joke about a guy being so thin he had to stand in the same place twice to throw a shadow?