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… — Dashiell Hammett Copy Share Image
It's sometimes better to pretend I don't hear the sound of somebody in the nearby woods with a shotgun. — Dashiell Hammett Copy Share
“This damned burg's getting me. If I don't get away soon I'll be going blood-simple like the natives.” — Dashiell Hammett Copy Share
“You know Quinn?" Macaulay asked me. "Ten minutes ago I was putting him to bed." Macaulay grinned. "I hope you keep his acquaintance like… — Dashiell Hammett Copy Share
“Gutman smiled benignly at him and said: “Well, Wilmer, I’m sorry indeed to lose you, and I want you to know that I couldn’t… — Dashiell Hammett Copy Share
“...I guess I can put two and two together." "Sometimes the answer's four," I said, "and sometimes it's twenty-two...” — Dashiell Hammett Copy Share
A lot of fancier yarns come from people trying to tell the truth. It’s not easy once you’re out of the habit. — Dashiell Hammett Copy Share
Three times I have been mistaken for a prohibition agent, but never had any trouble clearing myself. — Dashiell Hammett Copy Share
Listen, Dundy, it's been a long time since I burst into tears because a policeman didn't like me. — Dashiell Hammett Copy Share
“...What do people think about my staying with Harrison with him chasing everything that's hot and hollow?” — Dashiell Hammett Copy Share
“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… — Dashiell Hammett Copy Share
...What disturbed him was the discovery that in sensibly ordering his affairs he had got out of step, and not into step, with Life. — Dashiell Hammett Copy Share
I haven't any sort of plans for the future but I reckon things will work out in some manner. — Dashiell Hammett Copy Share
To get what he wanted, a man had to give other people what they wanted. — Dashiell Hammett Copy Share
He felt like somebody had taken the lid off life and let him see the works. — Dashiell Hammett Copy Share
