Agatha Christie

The best revenge is massive success.

I like to be accurate. I like to be precise. I like to be correct.

I have always been a great admirer of Hercule Poirot.

The greatest detective of all time is the human mind.

I have always been a great admirer of Miss Marple.

I like to solve puzzles. I like to solve mysteries.

I have always been interested in people. I have always been interested in human nature.

I have enjoyed greatly the second blooming that comes when you finish the life of the emotions and of personal relations; and suddenly find—at the age of fifty, say—that a whole new life has opened before you, filled with things you can think about, study, or read about... It is as if a fresh sap of ideas and thoughts was rising in you.

Crime is terribly revealing. Try and vary your methods as you will, your tastes, your habits, your attitude of mind, and your soul is revealed by your actions.

One is left with the horrible feeling now that war settles nothing; that to win a war is as disastrous as to lose one.

I don’t think necessity is the mother of invention. Invention, in my opinion, arises directly from idleness, possibly also from laziness—to save oneself trouble.

I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours.

The truth, however ugly in itself, is always curious and beautiful to seekers after it.

I have always believed to write well you must be a good reader first.

The trouble with most people is that they think with their hopes or fears or wishes rather than with their minds.

I don’t think you should write about anything you don’t know about.

The happy people are failures because they are on such good terms with themselves they don’t give a damn.

It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story.

The sooner one accepts that life is unfair, the happier one will be.

I’ve always thought that people who are frightened to show their feelings are inclined to be a bit ruthless.