Good critical writing is measured by the perception and evaluation of the subject; bad critical writing by the necessity of maintaining the professional standing of the critic.

Quote by Raymond Chandler

Topics: Raymond Chandler Quotes

I guess God made Boston on a wet Sunday.

I guess God made Boston on a wet Sunday.

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

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

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,...

An age which is incapable of poetry is incapable of any kind of literature except...

An age which is incapable of poetry is incapable of any kind of literature except...

However toplofty and idealistic a man may be, he can always rationalize his right to...

However toplofty and idealistic a man may be, he can always rationalize his right to...

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...

From 30 feet away she looked like a lot of class. From 10 feet away...

From 30 feet away she looked like a lot of class. From 10 feet away...

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 minute you try to talk business with him he takes the attitude that he...

The minute you try to talk business with him he takes the attitude that he...

I certainly admire people who do things.

I certainly admire people who do things.

Everything a writer learns about the art or craft of fiction takes just a little...

Everything a writer learns about the art or craft of fiction takes just a little...

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...

The flood of print has turned reading into a process of gulping rather than savoring.

The flood of print has turned reading into a process of gulping rather than savoring.

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.

The streets were dark with something more than night.

The streets were dark with something more than night.

Chess is the most elaborate waste of human intelligence outside of an advertising agency.

Chess is the most elaborate waste of human intelligence outside of an advertising agency.

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...

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...

When I got my first television set, I stopped caring so much about having close...

When I got my first television set, I stopped caring so much about having close...

Television is becoming a collage -- there are so many channels that you move through...

Television is becoming a collage -- there are so many channels that you move through...