Quotes by Dashiell Hammett

About Dashiell Hammett:

Samuel Dashiell Hammett was an American author of hard-boiled detective novels and short stories, a screenplay writer, and political activist. Among the enduring characters he created are Sam Spade (The Maltese Falcon), Nick and Nora Charles (The Thin Man), and the Continental Op (Red Harvest and The Dain Curse).
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

The snow wasn't deep - in many places its crust was firm enough that they actually walked on top of it - but the wind was surgical, a precision instrument with needles for teeth, and it found even the tiniest exposed places on her skin, attacking the...

Dashiell Hammett

To get what he wanted, a man had to give other people what they wanted.

Dashiell Hammett

There's never any telling what you'll say or do next, except that it's bound to be something astonishing. By God, sir, you are a character.

Dashiell Hammett

The cheaper the crook, the gaudier the patter.

Dashiell Hammett

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.

Dashiell Hammett

Joel Cairo: You always have a very smooth explanation ready. Sam Spade: What do you want me to do, learn to stutter?

Dashiell Hammett

Yes,' Spade growled. 'And when you're slapped you'll take it and like it.' He released Cairo's wrist and with a thick open hand struck the side of his face three times savagely.

Dashiell Hammett

When a man's partner is killed he's supposed to do something about it. It doesn't make any difference what you thought of him. He was your partner and you're supposed to do something about it. Then it happens we were in the detective business. Well, ...

Dashiell Hammett

Brigid O'Shaughnessy: “I haven't lived a good life. I've been bad, worse than you could know.” Sam Spade “You know, that's good, because if you actually were as innocent as you pretend to be, we'd never get anywhere

Dashiell Hammett

He looked rather pleasantly, like a blonde satan.

Dashiell Hammett

You know Quinn?" Macaulay asked me. "Ten minutes ago I was putting him to bed." Macaulay grinned. "I hope you keep his acquaintance like that - social" "Meaning what?" Macaulay's grin became rueful. "He used to be my broker, and his advice led me rig...

Dashiell Hammett

She stared at him dully and said: “I don’t like crooks, and even if I did, I wouldn’t like crooks that are stool-pigeons, and if I liked crooks that are stool-pigeons, I still wouldn’t like you.” She turned to the outer door.

Dashiell Hammett

My side felt a lot better when Nora called me at noon the next day. "My nice policeman wants to see you," she said. "How do you feel?" "Terrible. I must've gone to bed sober." I pushed Asta out of the way and got up.

Dashiell Hammett

Alice opened the door when I rang. She had on green pyjamas and held a hairbrush in one hand. She looked wearily at Quinn and spoke wearily: "Bring it in." I took it in and spread it on a bed. It mumbled something I could not make out and moved one h...

Dashiell Hammett

...What do you do with all your money?" "Me and the French hoard gold.

Dashiell Hammett

Don't be so damned patronizing. Your performance so far has been a little less than dazzling." "I didn't mean no harm," I said and kissed her. "That a new dress?" "Ah! Changing the subject, you coward.

Dashiell Hammett

The people who lie the most are nearly always the clumsiest at it, and they're easier to fool with lies than most people, too. You'd think they'd be on the look-out for lies, but they seem to be the very ones that will believe almost anything at all.

Dashiell Hammett

...I guess I can put two and two together." "Sometimes the answer's four," I said, "and sometimes it's twenty-two...

Dashiell Hammett

How about a drop of something to cut the phlegm? Why don't you stay sober today? We didn't come to New York to stay sober.

Dashiell Hammett

Thanks for the information about what we call business.

Dashiell Hammett

Author Bio

  • NameDashiell Hammett
  • DescriptionAmerican writer
  • BornMay 27, 1894
  • DiedJanuary 10, 1961
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionWriter; Novelist