--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A murderer is always a gambler. And, like…" description: "\"“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..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/agatha-christie-154_gambler_a-murderer-is-always-a-gambler-and-like_1619508.jpg" --- # A murderer is always a gambler. And, like many gamblers, a… ![“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…” quote by Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/agatha-christie-154_gambler_a-murderer-is-always-a-gambler-and-like_1619508.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/agatha-christie-154_gambler_a-murderer-is-always-a-gambler-and-like_1619508.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/agatha-christie-154_gambler_a-murderer-is-always-a-gambler-and-like_1619508.jpg) > ““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”” [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A killer’s confidence grows with each crime, blinding them to limits and leading to endless escalation. **In simple terms:** Killer becomes overconfident and never stops. Key Takeaway Beware hubris in harmful actions. Themes crime psychology hubris addiction escalation Mood tense dark cautionary Type warning analytical When to use this quote - serial offenses - addiction cycles - risk assessment - law enforcement - rehabilitation Key Concepts confidence bias self‑enhancement risk perception Questions to Reflect On - How does success fuel dangerous behavior? - What signs indicate a harmful pattern? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can blind one to danger and moral limits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gambler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gambler/) [Gambler Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gambler-like-251388/) [Gamblers Murderer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gamblers-murderer-251387/) [Like Gamblers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-gamblers-251389/) [Murderer Gambler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murderer-gambler-251386/) ## Related quotes > [Artists of all times are like the gamblers of Monte Carlo, and this blind lottery allows some to succeed and ruins others. In my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/artists-of-all-times-are-like-the-gamblers-of-monte-carlo-and-this/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [“Exactly, Hastings. And that is where the gambler (and the murderer, who is, after all, only a supreme kind of gambler since what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/exactly-hastings-and-that-is-where-the-gambler-and-the-murderer-who/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“THE GAMBLER,THE NUN & THE RADIO Do you have bad luck with all games? With everything and with women. He smiled again, showng his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-gambler-the-nun-the-radio-do-you-have-bad-luck-with-all-games/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > ['The Gambler' by Dostoevsky. It was the first time I realised that it was possible to have good and evil in one person. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/the-gambler-by-dostoevsky-it-was-the-first-time-i-realised-that-it/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [“I was, in life, to be a gambler, a risk taker, a swashbuckler, a knight. I accepted, then and there, my place in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percival-everett/i-was-in-life-to-be-a-gambler-a-risk-taker-a-swashbuckler-a-knight-i/) [Percival Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percival-everett/) > [“To me, the café was a morning casino. A casino where I played for my life, staked the dawning day and, like any inveterate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizaveta-mikhailichenko-and-yury-nesis/to-me-the-caf-was-a-morning-casino-a-casino-where-i-played-for-my/) [Elizaveta Mikhailichenko and Yury Nesis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizaveta-mikhailichenko-and-yury-nesis/) > [I was a gambler when I was a kid, so when we got to Las Vegas, it was like Mecca.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-van-zandt/i-was-a-gambler-when-i-was-a-kid-so-when-we-got-to-las-vegas-it-was/) [Steven Van Zandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-van-zandt/) > [I'm not a gambler and I never have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adebayo-akinfenwa/i-m-not-a-gambler-and-i-never-have-been/) [Adebayo Akinfenwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adebayo-akinfenwa/) > [I wouldn't see myself as a gambler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-quinn/i-wouldn-t-see-myself-as-a-gambler/) [Sean Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-quinn/) > [I'm a gambler and love slot machines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/la-la-anthony/i-m-a-gambler-and-love-slot-machines/) [La La Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/la-la-anthony/) > [There is in Hollywood, as in all cultures in which gambling is the central activity, a lowered sexual energy, an inability to devote more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/there-is-in-hollywood-as-in-all-cultures-in-which-gambling-is-the/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [I've always believed if a young guy has a chance to play, why would you explain where his weakness is? The only reason would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-stoops/i-ve-always-believed-if-a-young-guy-has-a-chance-to-play-why-would/) [Bob Stoops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-stoops/) > [I am a gambler. I decided to go in with Company E in the first wave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-capa/i-am-a-gambler-i-decided-to-go-in-with-company-e-in-the-first-wave/) [Robert Capa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-capa/) > [I'm not a gambler. And I don't approve of gambling unless it's for the Grand National.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/i-m-not-a-gambler-and-i-don-t-approve-of-gambling-unless-it-s-for-the/) [Paterson Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/) > [If I gamble, I'll play roulette. My wife and I will play roulette, and that's about it. I'm not a heavy gambler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/if-i-gamble-i-ll-play-roulette-my-wife-and-i-will-play-roulette-and/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) ## More by Agatha Christie > [One must accept the fact that we have only one companion in this world, a companion who accompanies us from the cradle to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/one-must-accept-the-fact-that-we-have-only-one-companion-in-this/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“I like to see an angry Englishman," said Poirot. "They are very amusing. The more emotional they feel the less command they have of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-like-to-see-an-angry-englishman-said-poirot-they-are-very-amusing/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Now, as I expect you know, there is nothing more cruel than talk, and there is nothing more difficult to combat. When people say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/now-as-i-expect-you-know-there-is-nothing-more-cruel-than-talk-and/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“A child says ‘Thank God for my good dinner’. What can I say at seventy-five? ‘Thank God for my good life, and for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/a-child-says-thank-god-for-my-good-dinner-what-can-i-say-at-seventy/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“I'm afraid I always find Shakespeare terribly dreary. All those long scenes where everybody is drunk and it's supposed to be funny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-m-afraid-i-always-find-shakespeare-terribly-dreary-all-those-long/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Either her dream had taken a very odd turn or else - or else Mary had really rushed into the room and had said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/either-her-dream-had-taken-a-very-odd-turn-or-else-or-else-mary-had/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Every murderer is probably somebody’s old friend,” observed Poirot philosophically. “You cannot mix up sentiment and reason.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/every-murderer-is-probably-somebody-s-old-friend-observed-poirot/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Well, of course, it was not any of my business but you get very queer glimpses of life sometimes, and you can't help speculating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/well-of-course-it-was-not-any-of-my-business-but-you-get-very-queer/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Mr. Satterthwaite looked cheered. Suddenly an idea struck him. His jaw fell. "My goodness," he cried, "I've only just realized it! That rascal, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/mr-satterthwaite-looked-cheered-suddenly-an-idea-struck-him-his-jaw/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“The old gentleman refuses to have the telephone which he regards as a device of the devil, and on a par with radio, television,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/the-old-gentleman-refuses-to-have-the-telephone-which-he-regards-as-a/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“That’s how they do it, these girls! Othello charmed Desdemona by telling her stories, but, oh, didn’t Desdemona charm Othello by the way she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/that-s-how-they-do-it-these-girls-othello-charmed-desdemona-by/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/it-is-ridiculous-to-set-a-detective-story-in-new-york-city-new-york/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Poirot, watching him, felt suddenly a doubt--an uncomfortable twinge. Was there, here, something that he had missed? Some richness of the spirit? Sadness crept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/poirot-watching-him-felt-suddenly-a-doubt-an-uncomfortable-twinge-was/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [In the midst of life, we are in death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/in-the-midst-of-life-we-are-in-death/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [Then there are some minor points that strike me as suggestive - for instance, the position of Mrs. Hubbard's sponge bag, the name of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/then-there-are-some-minor-points-that-strike-me-as-suggestive-for/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) [Explore all 1,053 Agatha Christie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) ## More Gambler quotes > [If I gamble, I'll play roulette. My wife and I will play roulette, and that's about it. I'm not a heavy gambler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/if-i-gamble-i-ll-play-roulette-my-wife-and-i-will-play-roulette-and/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [I'm not a gambler. And I don't approve of gambling unless it's for the Grand National.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/i-m-not-a-gambler-and-i-don-t-approve-of-gambling-unless-it-s-for-the/) [Paterson Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/) > [I am a gambler. I decided to go in with Company E in the first wave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-capa/i-am-a-gambler-i-decided-to-go-in-with-company-e-in-the-first-wave/) [Robert Capa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-capa/) > [I've always believed if a young guy has a chance to play, why would you explain where his weakness is? The only reason would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-stoops/i-ve-always-believed-if-a-young-guy-has-a-chance-to-play-why-would/) [Bob Stoops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-stoops/) > [There is in Hollywood, as in all cultures in which gambling is the central activity, a lowered sexual energy, an inability to devote more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/there-is-in-hollywood-as-in-all-cultures-in-which-gambling-is-the/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [I'm a gambler and love slot machines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/la-la-anthony/i-m-a-gambler-and-love-slot-machines/) [La La Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/la-la-anthony/) > [I wouldn't see myself as a gambler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-quinn/i-wouldn-t-see-myself-as-a-gambler/) [Sean Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-quinn/) > [I'm not a gambler and I never have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adebayo-akinfenwa/i-m-not-a-gambler-and-i-never-have-been/) [Adebayo Akinfenwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adebayo-akinfenwa/) > [I was a gambler when I was a kid, so when we got to Las Vegas, it was like Mecca.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-van-zandt/i-was-a-gambler-when-i-was-a-kid-so-when-we-got-to-las-vegas-it-was/) [Steven Van Zandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-van-zandt/) > [“To me, the café was a morning casino. 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It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/the-gambler-by-dostoevsky-it-was-the-first-time-i-realised-that-it/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [“THE GAMBLER,THE NUN & THE RADIO Do you have bad luck with all games? With everything and with women. He smiled again, showng his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-gambler-the-nun-the-radio-do-you-have-bad-luck-with-all-games/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [I'm a pro sports gambler. You have winning days and you have losing days. But you know if you've got the right strategy, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holzhauer/i-m-a-pro-sports-gambler-you-have-winning-days-and-you-have-losing/) [James Holzhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holzhauer/) > [How blind can you be, don't you see? That the gambler lost all he does not have... Bye bye, beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nightwish/how-blind-can-you-be-don-t-you-see-that-the-gambler-lost-all-he-does/) [Nightwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nightwish/) [Browse all 83 Gambler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gambler/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“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!' 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