Everything a writer learns about the art or craft of fiction takes just a little away from his need or desire to write at all. In the end he knows all the tricks and has nothing to say.

Quote by Raymond Chandler

Topics: Raymond Chandler Quotes

He looked about as inconspicuous as a tarantula on a slice of angel food.

He looked about as inconspicuous as a tarantula on a slice of angel food.

That's one thing I like about Hollywood. The writer is there revealed in his ultimate...

That's one thing I like about Hollywood. The writer is there revealed in his ultimate...

A good story cannot be devised; it has to be distilled.

A good story cannot be devised; it has to be distilled.

I certainly admire people who do things.

I certainly admire people who do things.

Most critical writing is drivel and half of it is dishonest. It is a short...

Most critical writing is drivel and half of it is dishonest. It is a short...

Woe, woe, woe... in a little while we shall all be dead. Therefore let us...

Woe, woe, woe... in a little while we shall all be dead. Therefore let us...

The challenge of screenwriting is to say much in little and then take half of...

The challenge of screenwriting is to say much in little and then take half of...

At least half the mystery novels published violate the law that the solution, once revealed,...

At least half the mystery novels published violate the law that the solution, once revealed,...

Chess is as elaborate a waste of human intelligence as you can find outside an...

Chess is as elaborate a waste of human intelligence as you can find outside an...

The moment a man sets his thoughts down on paper, however secretly, he is in...

The moment a man sets his thoughts down on paper, however secretly, he is in...

If my books had been any worse, I should not have been invited to Hollywood,...

If my books had been any worse, I should not have been invited to Hollywood,...

The more you reason the less you create

The more you reason the less you create

The overall picture, as the boys say, is of a degraded community whose idealism even...

The overall picture, as the boys say, is of a degraded community whose idealism even...

I knew one thing: as soon as anyone said you didn't need a gun, you'd...

I knew one thing: as soon as anyone said you didn't need a gun, you'd...

I do a great deal of research - particularly in the apartments of tall blondes.

I do a great deal of research - particularly in the apartments of tall blondes.

When I split an infinitive, God damn it, I split it so it will stay...

When I split an infinitive, God damn it, I split it so it will stay...

Television is just one more facet of that considerable segment of our society that never...

Television is just one more facet of that considerable segment of our society that never...

The syndicates take the strip and sell it to newspapers and split the income with...

The syndicates take the strip and sell it to newspapers and split the income with...

Television has done much for psychiatry by spreading information about it, as well as contributing...

Television has done much for psychiatry by spreading information about it, as well as contributing...

Richard Nixon was just offered $2 million by Schick to do a television commercial -...

Richard Nixon was just offered $2 million by Schick to do a television commercial -...