Quotes by Agatha Christie

When a mans necks in danger, he doesnt stop to think too much aboutsentiment.

A man in love is an awful sight.

Speech, so a wise old Frenchman said to me once, is an invention of mans to prevent him from thinking. It is also an infallible means of discovering that which he wishes to hide.

Sometimes what you think is an end is only a beginning. And that wouldnt do at all.

What I think is a different matter. Maybe I think some rather curious things—but until thinkings got you somewhere its no use talking about it.

Thats where all the trouble in life comes from. Thinking.

A meal should always lie lightly on the estomac, said Poirot. It should not be so heavy as to paralyze thought.

The popular idea that a child forgets easily is not an accurate one. Many people go right through life in the grip of an idea which has been impressed on them in very tender years.

Sixty-nine was an interesting age--an age of infinite possibilities--an age when at last the experience of a lifetime was beginning to tell. But to feel old--that was different, a tired, discouraged state of mind when one was inclined to ask oneself depressing questions. What was he after all? A little dried-up elderly man, with neither chick nor child, with no human belongings, only a valuable Art collection which seemed at the moment strangely unsatisfying. No one to care whether he lived or died...

I think you are wise. You havent got what it takes for this job. You are like Rosemarys father. He couldnt understand Lenins dictum: Away with softness.I thought of Hercule Poirots words.Im content, I said, to be human....We sat there in silence, each of use convinced that the others point of view was wrong.

I think I said that every generation had its weaklings--that that was one of the penalties of greatness--but that their failings were seldom remembered by posterity.

When you find that people are not telling you the truth---look out!

Please dont be too prejudiced against the poor thing because shes a liar. I do really believe that, like so many liars, there is a real substratum of truth behind her lies. I mean that though, to take an instance, her atrocity stories have grown and grown until every kind of unpleasant story that has ever appeared in print has happened to her or her relations personally, she did have a bad shock initially and did see one, at least, of her relations killed. I think a lot of these displaced persons feel, perhaps justly, that their claim to our notice and sympathy lies in their atrocity value and so they exaggerate and invent.

To know when to use the truth is the essence of successful deception

I looked at her. Sheila was my girl--the girl I wanted--and wanted for keeps. But it wasnt any use having illusions about her. Sheila was a liar and probably always would be a liar. It was her way of fighting for survival--the quick easy glib denial. It was a childs weapon--and shed probably never got out of using it. If I wanted Sheila, I must accept her as she was--be at hand to prop up the weak places. Weve all got our weak places. Mine were different from Sheilas, but they were there.

When engaged in eating, the brain should be the servant of the stomach.

Mr Rycroft said nothing. It was so difficult not to say the wrong thing to Captain Wyatt that it was usually safer not to reply at all.

That, of course, depends entirely on who you mean by they. Its a very vague term. Who is or are they? Is there such a thing, are there such persons as they? We dont know. But I can tell you this. If the most popular explanation of they is accepted, then these people work in very close, self-contained cells. They do that for their own security.~Jessop

It seems odd that as far as I know nobody has yet been murdered for having too perfect a character! And yet perfection is undoubtedly an irritating thing!

I was tired of this silly joking about my speaking countenance. I could keep a secret as well as anyone. Poirot had always persisted in the humiliating belief that I am a transparent character and that anyone can read what is passing in my mind.