--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know nothing about pistols and…" description: "\"I know nothing about pistols and revolvers, which is why I usually kill off my characters with a blunt instrument or better with poisons. Besides, pois..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/agatha-christie-154_blunt_i-know-nothing-about-pistols-and-revolve_1347385.jpg" --- # I know nothing about pistols and revolvers, which is why I… ![“I know nothing about pistols and revolvers, which is why I usually kill off my characters with a blunt instrument or better with poisons. Besides, poisons are neat and clean and really exciting... I do not think I could look a really ghastly mangled body in the face. It is the means that I am…” quote by Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/agatha-christie-154_blunt_i-know-nothing-about-pistols-and-revolve_1347385.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/agatha-christie-154_blunt_i-know-nothing-about-pistols-and-revolve_1347385.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/agatha-christie-154_blunt_i-know-nothing-about-pistols-and-revolve_1347385.jpg) > “I know nothing about pistols and revolvers, which is why I usually kill off my characters with a blunt instrument or better with poisons. Besides, poisons are neat and clean and really exciting... I do not think I could look a really ghastly mangled body in the face. It is the means that I am interested in. I do not usually describe the end, which is often a corpse.” [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. She prefers indirect, elegant methods of killing over graphic violence, focusing on the means rather than the gore. **In simple terms:** She chooses clever, clean deaths over messy ones. Key Takeaway Use subtlety in storytelling. Themes creativity violence storytelling ethics Mood thoughtful analytical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing fiction - crafting mystery plots - building suspense - avoiding gratuitous gore Key Concepts murder methods character development tone Questions to Reflect On - How does method choice affect reader engagement? - What does this reveal about the author's values? A Different Perspective May limit visceral impact for readers seeking realism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blunt/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Clean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clean/) [Corpses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corpses/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Exciting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exciting/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Ghastly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ghastly/) [Instruments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruments/) [Know Pistols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-pistols-4570385/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Neat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neat/) [Pistols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pistols/) [Pistols Revolvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pistols-revolvers-4570383/) [Poison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poison/) [Revolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolver/) [Revolvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolvers-1742443/) [Revolvers Usually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolvers-usually-4570384/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Statistics are somewhat like old medical journals, or like revolvers in newly opened mining districts. Most men rarely use them, and find it troublesome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shaw-billings/statistics-are-somewhat-like-old-medical-journals-or-like-revolvers/) [John Shaw Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shaw-billings/) > [It has always struck me that one of the readiest ways of estimating a country's regard for law is to notice what arms the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-dunsany/it-has-always-struck-me-that-one-of-the-readiest-ways-of-estimating-a/) [Lord Dunsany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-dunsany/) > [When we hear phrases like 'New World Order,' we release the safety catches on our revolvers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/when-we-hear-phrases-like-new-world-order-we-release-the-safety/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [ “A doll with skin like that isn't going to mess it up with a revolver shot. \[...\] Revolvers are meant for crocodile-skins like ours.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/a-doll-with-skin-like-that-isn-t-going-to-mess-it-up-with-a-revolver/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [“The answer came all too quickly. Ducking aside behind the door, Laila desperately grabbed for the weapon that was kept on a shelf running…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-jordan/the-answer-came-all-too-quickly-ducking-aside-behind-the-door-laila/) [Will Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-jordan/) > [“Omar’s choice of the .357 Magnum was more prosaic, based on a simple bit of advice from a fellow inmate. The man had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-england/omar-s-choice-of-the-357-magnum-was-more-prosaic-based-on-a-simple/) [Stephen England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-england/) > [If you change the rules on what controls you... you will change the rules on what you can control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-ritchie/if-you-change-the-rules-on-what-controls-you-you-will-change-the/) [Guy Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-ritchie/) > [The Beatles, 'Revolver.' It's pop. It's classic. It's experimental. It's revolutionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludovico-einaudi/the-beatles-revolver-it-s-pop-it-s-classic-it-s-experimental-it-s/) [Ludovico Einaudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludovico-einaudi/) > [Nothing whatever but the constitutional law, the political structure, of these United States protects any American from arbitrary seizure of his property and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-wilder-lane/nothing-whatever-but-the-constitutional-law-the-political-structure/) [Rose Wilder Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-wilder-lane/) > [Do not touch anything unnecessarily. Beware of pretty girls in dance halls and parks who may be spies, as well as bicycles, revolvers, uniforms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-wills/do-not-touch-anything-unnecessarily-beware-of-pretty-girls-in-dance/) [Garry Wills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-wills/) > [I suddenly dreamt that I picked up the revolver and aimed it straight at my heart my heart, and not my head; and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/i-suddenly-dreamt-that-i-picked-up-the-revolver-and-aimed-it-straight/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“Mon livre de chevet, c'est un revolver. Mi libro de cabecera es un revólver.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-rigaut/mon-livre-de-chevet-c-est-un-revolver-mi-libro-de-cabecera-es-un-rev/) [Jacques Rigaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-rigaut/) > [I've asked our people, "Why don't we just put a revolver on top of our basic loan?" Make it easier for the client.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dimon/i-ve-asked-our-people-why-don-t-we-just-put-a-revolver-on-top-of-our/) [Jamie Dimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dimon/) > [This is like playing Russian roulette with a Luger rather than a revolver. One bullet, one chamber - and we're pulling the trigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lynas/this-is-like-playing-russian-roulette-with-a-luger-rather-than-a/) [Mark Lynas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lynas/) > [Anyone who maintains absolute standards of good and evil is dangerous. As dangerous as a maniac with a loaded revolver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/anyone-who-maintains-absolute-standards-of-good-and-evil-is-dangerous/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) ## 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. 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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! 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It is much more poetic than that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/jazz-is-not-something-that-can-be-defined-through-blunt-instruments/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [Local and state governments have outrun the federal government. The EPA has served notice that it will enact a rule requiring CO2 reductions by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/local-and-state-governments-have-outrun-the-federal-government-the/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Was it fate? Was it destiny?" "I think it was Alan Blunt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-horowitz/was-it-fate-was-it-destiny-i-think-it-was-alan-blunt/) [Anthony Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-horowitz/) > [Blunt force didn't knock out the drug epidemic. 21 million Americans are addicted to drugs or alcohol. 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Man, when I was young I shoved my ignorance in people's faces.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-re-afraid-of-making-mistakes-don-t-be-mistakes-can-be-profited-by/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) [Browse all 322 Blunt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blunt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know nothing about pistols and revolvers, which is why I usually kill off my characters with a blunt instrument or better with poisons. Besides, poisons are neat and clean and really exciting... I do not think I could look a really ghastly mangled body in the face. It is the means that I am interested in. 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