Quotes by Agatha Christie

Mr. Satterthwaite looked cheered. Suddenly an idea struck him. His jaw fell. My goodness, he cried, Ive only just realized it! That rascal, with his poisoned cocktail! Anyone might have drunk it! It might have been me!There is an even more terrible possibility that you have not considered, said Poirot. Eh?It might have been me, said Hercule Poirot.

When the sea goes down, there will come from the mainland boats and men. And they will find ten dead bodies and an unsolved problem on Indian Island.

the elephant can remember.

Marriage is called all sorts of things, a haven, and a refuge, and a crowning glory, and a state of bondage, and lots more. But do you know what I think it is?What?A sport!And a damned good sport too, said Tommy.

I did not deceive you, mon ami. At most, I permitted you to deceive yourself.

He dragged me back - just in time. A tree had crashed down on to the side walk, just missing us. Poirot stared at it, pale and upset. It was a near thing that! But clumsy, all the same - for I had no suspicion - at least hardly any suspicion. Yes, but for my quick eyes, the eyes of a cat, Hercule Poirot might now be crushed out of existence - a terrible calamity for the world. And you, too, mon ami - though that would not be such a national catastrophe. Thank you, I said coldly.

Ah, but you must have a Christmas uncomplicated by murder.

There was only one thing about his own appearance which really pleased Hercule Poirot, and that was the profusion of his moustaches, and the way they responded to grooming and treatment and trimming. They were magnificent. He knew of nobody else who had any moustache half as good.

You have a great advantage as a writer, Monsieur, said Poirot. You can relieve your feelings by expedient of the printed word. You have the power of the pen over your enemies.

I have always noticed that these artists and writers are very unbalanced

One mustnt refuse the unusual, if it is offered to one.

Shes had a long life of experience in noticing evil, fancying evil, suspecting evil and going forth to do battle with evil.

Nowadays, no one believes in evil. It is considered, at most, a mere negation of good. Evil, people say, is done by those who know no better - who are undeveloped - who are to be pitied rather than blamed. But, M. Poirot, evil is real! It is a fact! I believe in Evil as I believe in Good. It exists! It is powerful! It walks the earth! He stopped. His breath was coming fast. He wiped his forehead with his handkerchief and looked suddenly apologetic. Im sorry. I got carried away.

Evil never goes unpunished, Monsieur. But the punishment is sometimes secret.

There is no such thing as a plain fact of murder. Murder springs, nine times out of ten, out of the character and circumstances of the murdered person. Because the victim was the kind of person he or she was, therefore was he or she murdered! Until we can understand fully and completely exactly what kind of a person [she] was, we shall not be able to see clearly exactly the kind of person who murdered her. From that spring the necessity of our questions.

I mean that if you are not absolutely sure of a thing, it is so difficult to commit yourself to a definite course of action.

Youth is a failing only tooeasily outgrown.

I like to see an angry Englishman, said Poirot. They are very amusing. The more emotional they feel the less command they have of language.

I think Mrs. Leidner seems happier already from just talking about it. Thats always a help, you know. Its bottling things up that makes them get on your nerves.

Men dont want to be brothers - they may someday, but they dont now. My belief in the brotherhood of man died the day I arrived in London last week, when I observed the people standing in a Tube train resolutely refuse to move up and make room for those who entered. You wont turn people into angels by appealing to their better natures just yet awhile - but by judicious force you can coerce them into behaving more or less decently to one another to go on with. I will still believe in the brotherhood of man, but its not coming yet awhile. Say another ten thousand years or so. Its no good being impatient. Evolution is a slow process.