172 Quotes by Elmore Leonard

I got halfway through ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.’ I don’t get it at all. What’s the big thrill? It’s boring.

You’re going through your menopause and you thought you were in love.

There’s nothing like work to take your mind off your worries.

After 58 years you’d think writing would get easier. It doesn’t. If you’re lucky, you become harder to please. That’s all right, it’s still a pleasure.

My characters have to talk, or they’re out. They audition in early scenes. If they can’t talk, they’re given less to do, or thrown out.

If you take a few days to write an outline, you’re just making up scenes that you think will work, that you think will be interesting. But as you write it, other ideas occur – better ideas that have to do with what you’re writing.

She liked to argue, especially with people who were serious about weird ideas they swore were true.

Don’t worry about what your mother thinks of your language.

Louis shook his head. “I don’t know.” “What’s that?” “About going with you.” “You don’t think you will or you know it?” Louis shrugged and drew on his cigarette. “I said before I ain’t talking you into anything. But just answer me this, Louis. What does a three-time loser have to lose?” He started to back out of the drive and stopped. He said, “Louis? You only think you’re a good guy. You’re just like me, only you turned out white.