Dashiell Hammett

The cheaper the crook, the gaudier the patter.

— Dashiell Hammett

Feed the lettuce to the bunny and eat the bunny.

— Dashiell Hammett

“And when you're slapped you'll take it and like it.”

— Dashiell Hammett

I like women. I really like women.

— Dashiell Hammett

Most things in San Francisco can be bought or taken.

— Dashiell Hammett

I deserve all the love you can spare me. And I want a lot more than I deserve.

— Dashiell Hammett

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

— Dashiell Hammett

“This damned burg's getting me. If I don't get away soon I'll be going blood-simple like the natives.”

— 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…

— Dashiell Hammett

The face she made at me was probably meant for a smile. Whatever it was, it beat me. I was afraid she'd…

— Dashiell Hammett

I haven't any sort of plans for the future but I reckon things will work out in some manner.

— Dashiell Hammett

Nick: "Don't you think maybe a drink would help you to sleep?" Nora: "No, thanks." Nick: "Maybe it would if I took…

— Dashiell Hammett

“You always have, I must say, a smooth explanation ready." "What do you want me to do? Learn to stutter?”

— Dashiell Hammett

“Quinn came over to refill his glass. He looked towards the bedroom door. "Where'd you find the little blonde?" "Used to bounce…

— Dashiell Hammett

I first heard Personville called Poisonville by a red-haired mucker named Hickey Dewey in the Big Ship in Butte. He also called…

— Dashiell Hammett

“If the Old Man said something was so, then it probably was, because he was one of these cautious babies who'll look…

— 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…

— 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,…

— Dashiell Hammett

“He opened the door wider. "He's waiting." He gave me what was probably meant to be a significant wink, but a corner…

— Dashiell Hammett

People always say things like, Oh, well, he was suffering so much that he was better off dying. But that's not true.…

— Dashiell Hammett

“I said: "All right, talk, but do you mind putting the gun away? My wife doesn't care, but I'm pregnant and I…

— Dashiell Hammett

“Studsy returned alone. "Maybe I'm wrong," he said as he sat down, "but I think somebody could do something with that cluck…

— Dashiell Hammett

“Alice opened the door when I rang. She had on green pyjamas and held a hairbrush in one hand. She looked wearily…

— Dashiell Hammett

“Nora was eating a piece of cold duck with one hand and working on a jig-saw puzzle with the other when I…

— Dashiell Hammett

“She tilted her head to the right. "You didn't even tell me you had taken the case." "I had done what? Oh,…

— Dashiell Hammett

“I hope they don't hang you, precious, by that sweet neck. Yes, angel, I'm gonna send you over. The chances are you'll…

— Dashiell Hammett

“Gilbert put down the magazine he was looking at and politely said he hoped I was recovering from my injury. I said…

— Dashiell Hammett

What I try to do is write a story about a detective rather than a detective story. Keeping the reader fooled until…

— Dashiell Hammett

“That's wonderful. I do like a man that tells you right out he’s looking out for himself. Don’t we all? I don’t…

— Dashiell Hammett

“But besides, I haven't the time, I'm too busy trying to see that you don't lose any of the money I married…

— Dashiell Hammett

I don't know much about him; never heard him say more than nope or yup.

— Dashiell Hammett

Who shot him? I asked. The grey man scratched the back of his neck and said: Somebody with a gun.

— Dashiell Hammett

I haven't laughed so much over anything since the hogs ate my kid brother.

— Dashiell Hammett

“He's cute," I said. "Uh-huh," the grey man agreed, "and so's dynamite.”

— Dashiell Hammett

“He did not smile. "I don't believe in anything, but I'm too much of a gambler not to be affected by a…

— Dashiell Hammett

Talking is something you can't do judiciously unless you keep in practice.

— 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

“The hell of it, Miss- Is your name Wonderly or Leblanc?' She blushed and murmured: 'It's really O'Shaughnessy - Brigid O'Shaughnessy”

— Dashiell Hammett

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

— 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