Agatha Christie

Mystery novelist

Modern influential 100 sayings

Sayings by Agatha Christie

Fear is incomplete knowledge.

Throughout her career — General observation in her works.
Philosophical Unverifiable

One must accept the fact that we have only one companion in this world, a companion who accompanies us from the cradle to the grave - our own self. Get on good terms with that companion - learn to live with yourself.

1952 — A Daughter's a Daughter (1952) / An Autobiography (1977)
Philosophical Unverifiable

The human face is, after all, nothing more nor less than a mask.

Throughout her career, e.g., The Hollow (1946) — General observation in her works.
Philosophical Unverifiable

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

Throughout her career — General observation.
Philosophical Unverifiable

Good advice is always certain to be ignored, but that's no reason not to give it.

Throughout her career — General observation.
Philosophical Unverifiable

Never go back to a place where you have been happy. Until you do it remains alive for you. If you go back it will be destroyed.

1977 — An Autobiography
Philosophical Unverifiable

As life goes on it becomes tiring to keep up the character you invented for yourself, and so you relapse into individuality and become more like yourself every day.

Throughout her career — General reflection.
Philosophical Unverifiable

Assumptions are dangerous things.

Throughout her career — General observation.
Philosophical Unverifiable

The young people think the old people are fools -- but the old people know the young people are fools.

1930 — Murder at the Vicarage
Philosophical Confirmed

To every problem, there is a most simple solution.

Throughout her career — General observation, often by Poirot.
Philosophical Unverifiable

Everybody always knows something, even if it's something they don't know they know.

Throughout her career — General observation, possibly from a character.
Philosophical Unverifiable

To rush into explanations is always a sign of weakness.

Throughout her career — Often attributed to Hercule Poirot.
Philosophical Unverifiable

The saddest thing in life and the hardest to live through, is the knowledge that there is someone you love very much whom you cannot save from suffering.

Throughout her career — General reflection.
Philosophical Unverifiable

No one human being knows the full truth about another human being.

Throughout her career — General observation.
Philosophical Unverifiable

It's what's in yourself that makes you happy or unhappy.

Throughout her career — General observation.
Philosophical Unverifiable

Courage is the resolution to face the unforeseen.

Throughout her career — General observation.
Philosophical Unverifiable

When a man's neck's in danger, he doesn't stop to think too much about sentiment.

Throughout her career — General observation.
Philosophical Unverifiable

Many homicidal lunatics are very quiet, unassuming people. Delightful fellows.

1939 — And Then There Were None
Philosophical Unverifiable

There is too much tendency to attribute to God the evils that man does of his own free will. I must concede you the Devil. God doesn't really need to punish us, Miss Barton. We're so busy punishing ourselves.

1961 — The Pale Horse (spoken by Father Gorman)
Philosophical Unverifiable

To care passionately for another human creature brings always more sorrow than joy; but at the same time, Elinor, one would not be without experience. Anyone who has never really loved has never really lived.

1944 — Absent in the Spring (spoken by Elinor)
Philosophical Unverifiable