Quotes from Agatha Christie

A murderer is always a gambler. And, like many gamblers, a murderer often does not know when to stop. With each crime his opinion of his own abilities is strengthened. His sense of proportion is warped. He does not say, 'I have been clever and lucky!' No, he says only, 'l have been clever!' And his opinion of his cleverness grows... and then, roes amis, the ball spins

He's got a wife," I said. "Quite a nice wife, and two obstreperous children—boys.

esperaba... esperaba a lo largo de las horas el éxito o el fracaso de un esfuerzo.

Ma non aveva mai tenuto conto della natura umana. Aveva sempre considerato le persone come casi da trattare e problemi da risolvere. Non aveva mai capito che ciascun essere umano era diverso, aveva le proprie idiosincrasie, avrebbe reagito diversamente. Già allora l'aveva ammonita a non aspettarsi troppo. Ma lei si era sempre aspettata troppo, anche se non voleva ammetterlo, e così era sempre rimasta delusa.

It is odd, when you have a secret belief of your own which you do not wish to acknowledge, the voicing of it by someone else will rouse you to a fury of denial. I burst immediately into indignant speech.

It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story.

Some people are wise - they never expect to be happy. I did.

should learn from another. Each individual should develop his own powers to the uttermost, not try to imitate those of someone else. I do not wish you to be a second and inferior Poirot. I wish you to be the supreme Hastings. And you are the supreme Hastings. In you, Hastings, I find the normal mind almost perfectly illustrated.

I refuse to have my character improved.

Married a man who wasn't much good. I'd say she never had much judgment when it came to men. Some women haven't. They fall for anyone who tells them a hard-luck story. Always convinced that all the man needs is proper female understanding. That, once married to her, he'll pull up his socks and make a go of life! But of course that type of man never does.

Os elefantes não esquecem-disse a senhora Oliver-,mas nós somos seres humanos e temos a capacidade de esquecer." Os elefantes não se esquecem.

The face towels had been excellent value and just what Margaret wanted, the space gun for Robby and the rabbit for Jean were highly satisfactory, and that evening coatee was just the thing she herself needed, warm but dressy. The pullover for Hector, too…her mind dwelt with approval on the soundness of her purchases.

Poirot: My name is Hercule Poirot, you know the name perhaps? American passenger: Why yes, it does seem kind of familiar, only I thought it was some kind of a woman's dressmaker. Poirot: (exasperated sigh) It is incredible.

Mr Goby turned over another leaf of his notebook and selected his confidante: he chose an electric radiator...

Not a look, not a gesture of Valerie Saintclair's but expressed drama. She seemed to exhale an atmosphere of romance. A scarlet flannel dressing gown covered her feet—a homely garment in all conscience; but the charm of her personality invested it with an exotic flavour, and it seemed an Eastern robe of glowing colour.

Bland reflected that the local verdict seemed to be the comfortable and probably agelong one of attributing every tragic occurrence to unspecified foreigners.

He had a book in his hand which I had lent him. 'Thank you for lending me this,' he said. 'I enjoyed it.' He put it down beside me. Then he sat down on the end of my bed, looked at me thoughtfully, and said that he wanted to marry me. No Victorian Miss exclaiming, 'Oh, Mr Simpkins, this is so sudden!' could have looked more completely taken aback than I did.

There was a gay family from Caracas complete with children.

Elephants are quite enough.

Girls are foolish things.

If the thing you want beyond anything cannot be, it is much better to recognise it and go forward, instead of dwelling on one's regrets and hopes.

Can't you ever leave murder alone, woman? Even murder in retrospect?

there was a girl who discovered the body." "What did she do when she discovered it?" "Screamed." "Very nice too,

You really have the best opinion of yourself of anyone I ever knew!' I cried, divided between amusement and annoyance.