Quote by Raymond Chandler
““The butler went away among the abominable plants. The General spoke again, slowly, using his strength as carefully as an out-of-work show-girl uses her last good pair of stockings.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Big Sleep, 1939
A vivid metaphor likens a general’s careful use of strength to a show‑girl’s frugal use of stockings, highlighting resourcefulness.
In simple terms: Resourceful use of limited assets.
Key Takeaway
Use resources wisely, even when scarce.
Themes
resourcefulness
strategy
metaphor
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
literary
descriptive
When to use this quote
- military planning
- budgeting
- creative writing
- performance arts
Key Concepts
literature
character analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the metaphor reveal about the character?
- How can limited resources inspire creativity?
A Different Perspective
Metaphor may obscure literal meaning for some readers.
![“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)
![“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_writing_he-james-cain-is-every-kind-of-writer-i_41185.jpg)
