Black Quote by Rex Stout
““I saw them. It was impossible to snitch a sample." He grunted, lowering himself into his chair. "I didn't ask you to." "Who said you did, but you expected me to. There are three of them in a glass case and the guard has his feet glued." "What color are they?" "They're not black." "Black flowers are never black. What color are they?" "Well." I considered. "Say you take a piece of coal. Not anthracite. Cannel coal." "That's black." "Wait a minute. Spread on it a thin coating of open kettle molasses. That's it." "Pfui. You haven't the faintest notion what it would look like. Neither have I." "I'll go buy a piece of coal and we'll try it.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Mystery of the Blue Train, 1935
A detective wrestles with a puzzling clue, using creative reasoning to uncover hidden truth.
In simple terms: A detective solves a tricky clue with imagination.
Key Takeaway
Think outside the box when facts seem impossible.
Themes
investigation
creativity
logic
Mood
curious
analytical
Type
detective
literary
When to use this quote
- crime scene analysis
- forensic testing
- team brainstorming
Key Concepts
deduction
problem solving
analogy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance imagination with evidence?
- What alternative explanations could exist?
A Different Perspective
Relying on imagination may overlook concrete evidence.
