Commit Quote by Raymond Chandler
“Hammett gave murder back to the kind of people that commit it for reasons, not just to provide a corpse; and with the means at hand, not hand-wrought dueling pistols, curare and tropical fish.”
About This Quote
Chandler critiques modern murder mysteries for focusing on sensational means rather than the motives behind crimes.
In simple terms: Modern murders emphasize gadgets over motives.
Key Takeaway
Focus on motive, not just method.
Themes
literature
crime
motivation
authenticity
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
thought‑provoking
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- crime fiction analysis
- author interviews
Key Concepts
storytelling
ethical realism
genre evolution
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do audiences gravitate to sensational methods?
- Can motive-driven stories be as engaging?
A Different Perspective
Readers may still prefer flashy details.
![“Hammett was the ace performer... He is said to have lacked heart; yet the story he himself thought the most of [The Glass Key] is the record of a man's devotion to a friend. He was spare, frugal, hard-boiled, but he did over and over again what only the best writers can ever do at all. He wrote…” quote by Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/882/raymond-chandler-629_dashiel-hammett_hammett-was-the-ace-performer-he-is-said_20171.jpg)
![“[On Dashiell Hammett:] ... he is so hard-boiled you could roll him on the White House lawn.” quote by Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e36/dorothy-parker-700_hard_on-dashiell-hammett-he-is-so-hard-boiled_2017062.jpg)
![“He [James Cain] is every kind of writer I detest...a Proust in greasy overalls, a dirty little boy with a piece of chalk and a board fence and nobody looking.” quote by Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/614/raymond-chandler-629_cain_he-james-cain-is-every-kind-of-writer-i_41185.jpg)
