Dashiell Hammett

The roof might fall in; anything could happen.

— Dashiell Hammett

The outcome of successful planning always looks like luck to saps.

— Dashiell Hammett

You got to look on the bright side, even if there ain't one.

— Dashiell Hammett

“That's Mama, divorces a lunatic and marries a gigolo.”

— Dashiell Hammett

He looked rather pleasantly, like a blonde satan.

— Dashiell Hammett

Thanks for the information about what we call business.

— Dashiell Hammett

With what dope I got I think it fills me in pretty well.

— Dashiell Hammett

Another man whose social life has ruined him.

— Dashiell Hammett

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

— 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

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

— 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

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

— 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

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

— 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

“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

Our lawyers had their chat with the Supreme Court Justice, and promised to repast the chat to other members of the Supreme…

— 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

I couldn't be fonder of you if you were my own son. But, well, if you lose a son, its possible to…

— 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

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

“To swipe the immortal lines uttered by Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon, a great mystery should take "the lid off life…

— Dashiell Hammett

“You know Quinn?" Macaulay asked me. "Ten minutes ago I was putting him to bed." Macaulay grinned. "I hope you keep his…

— Dashiell Hammett

Samuel Spade's jaw was long and bony, his chin a jutting v under the more flexible v of his mouth. His nostrils…

— Dashiell Hammett

“I had seen the girl somewhere before. She was a slender girl in a glistening blue gown that exhibited a generous spread…

— Dashiell Hammett

When you write, you want fame, fortune and personal satisfaction. You want to write what you want to write and feel it's…

— Dashiell Hammett

“We found a table. Nora said: "She's pretty." "If you like them like that." She grinned at me. "You got types?" "Only…

— 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

“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

“You like Nick a lot, don't you, Nora?" Dorothy asked. "He's an old Greek fool, but I'm used to him." "Charles isn't…

— Dashiell Hammett

“Dorothy's coming up. I think she's tight." "That's great." I picked up my bathrobe. "I was afraid I was going to have…

— Dashiell Hammett

“When he awakened again he could stand, and did. He doused his head in cold water and drank four glasses of water.…

— Dashiell Hammett

It's awfully easy to be in love in jail

— Dashiell Hammett

Looks like she's been slapping the kid again.

— Dashiell Hammett

I once knew a man who stole a Ferris Wheel...

— Dashiell Hammett

Most things in San Francisco can be bought or taken.

— Dashiell Hammett

I like women. I really like women.

— Dashiell Hammett

The cheaper the crook, the gaudier the patter.

— Dashiell Hammett