Quotes from Agatha Christie

The wish to kill and the action of killing are two different things.

He was also a stupid man—that is why he is dead.

Loyalty to a memory? I believe the present matters, not the past. The past must go. If we seek to keep the past alive, we end, I think, by distorting it. We see it in exaggerated terms; a forced perspective.

Quiet men, said Miss Marple, are often attracted to flamboyant types. Conversations are always dangerous, if you have something to hide, said Miss Marple. When you're young and strong and healthy and life stretches ahead of you, living isn't really important at all. It's young people who commit suicide easily, out of despair from love, sometimes from sheer anxiety and worry. But old people know how valuable life is and how interesting.

It's—it's so lovely to think of things—and then for them really to happen!" cried Tuppence enthusiastically.

Miss Emily Brent sat very upright as was her custom. She was sixty-five and she did not approve of lounging. Her father, a Colonel of the old school, had been particular about deportment. The present generation was shamelessly lax—in their carriage, and in every other way…. Enveloped in an aura of righteousness and unyielding principles, Miss Brent sat in her crowded third-class carriage and triumphed over its discomfort and its heat.

said sharply: "Water not boiling again, Somers!" and Miss Somers's worried meek face went pink and she said, "Oh dear, I did think it was boiling this time.

we've got to be careful. We've got to get there slowly.

I had just arrived at these conclusions when the delightful husky laugh from the stage was echoed from behind me. I turned my head sharply. In the seat immediately behind mine, leaning forward with her lips slightly parted, was the subject of the present imitation—Lady Edgware, better known as Jane Wilkinson.

Poirot was an extraordinary-looking little man. He was hardly more than five feet four inches, but carried himself with great dignity. His head was exactly the shape of an egg, and he always perched it a little on one side. His moustache was very stiff and military. The neatness of his attire was almost incredible; I believe a speck of dust would have caused him more pain than a bullet wound.

Jackie darted at her, kissing her exuberantly.

I've no particular loyalty to Mrs. Leidner," said Miss Johnson dryly. There was indeed a sharp and acid tone in her voice.

And you must remember that anyone who's mentally unhinged has a good deal of unsuspected strength.

you've been listening to the doctors. Never should. What do they know? Nothing at all--or just enough to make them dangerous.

Since then I have never laughed at the people who use the word atmosphere. There is such a thing. There are certain places imbued and saturated with good or evil influences which can make their power felt.

General Macarthur looked out of the carriage window. The train was just coming into Exeter, where he had to change.

Providence leaves the work of conviction and chastisement to us mortals—and the process is often fraught with difficulties. There are no short cuts.

We are all strangers to one another and that, in those circumstances, nobody can be exonerated without fullest proof. There is, as I have said, a devil among us.

I can assure you, it is not so gay as it sounds.

Monsieur, if a doctor walks along the street and an accident happens, does he say, 'I have retired from my profession, I will continue my walk', when there is some one bleeding to death at his feet? If I had been already in Nice, and the police had sent to me and asked me to assist them, I should have refused. But this affair, the good God thrust it upon me.

Not selfish things, not things for herself; who could give to unwanted children love, care, a home. All these things she could buy for them, but not their love for her.

Dr. Armstrong was driving his Morris across Salisbury Plain. He was very tired … Success had its penalties.

Cuántas veces no habré oído decir a una mujer inteligente a más no poder: "Edgardo dice...", como quien cita a una autoridad incontrovertible. Y eso cuando todo el mundo sabe que Edgardo es un perfecto idiota.

One is alone when the last one who remembers is gone. I have nephews and nieces and kind friends---but there's no one who knew me as a young girl---non one who belongs to the old days. I've been alone for quite a long time now.