One of the hardest things to believe is that anyone will abandon the effort to escape a charge of murder. It is extremely important to suspend disbelief on that. If you don't, the story is spoiled.

Quote by Rex Stout

Topics: Rex Stout Quotes

To read of a detective's daring finesse or ingenious stratagem is a rare joy.

To read of a detective's daring finesse or ingenious stratagem is a rare joy.

If I'm home with no chore at hand, and a package of books has come,...

If I'm home with no chore at hand, and a package of books has come,...

A character who is thought-out is not born, he or she is contrived. A born...

A character who is thought-out is not born, he or she is contrived. A born...

There are two kinds of statistics: the kind you look up and the kind you...

There are two kinds of statistics: the kind you look up and the kind you...

I think one or two of the later Holmes stories are among the best.

I think one or two of the later Holmes stories are among the best.

The minute those two little particles inside a woman's womb have joined together, billions of...

The minute those two little particles inside a woman's womb have joined together, billions of...

I still can't decide which is more fun - reading or writing.

I still can't decide which is more fun - reading or writing.

There are two kinds of statistics, the kind you look up and the kind you...

There are two kinds of statistics, the kind you look up and the kind you...

As a professional writer of detective stories, I string along with the ballplayers. I love...

As a professional writer of detective stories, I string along with the ballplayers. I love...

I have never regarded myself as this or that. I have been too busy being...

I have never regarded myself as this or that. I have been too busy being...

Every Sherlock Holmes story has at least one marvelous scene.

Every Sherlock Holmes story has at least one marvelous scene.

Hemingway never grew out of adolescence. His scope and depth stayed shallow because he had...

Hemingway never grew out of adolescence. His scope and depth stayed shallow because he had...

The Glass Key is better than anything Hemingway ever wrote.

The Glass Key is better than anything Hemingway ever wrote.

I have a strong moral sense - by my standards.

I have a strong moral sense - by my standards.

Doyle stokes in a thousand shrewd touches with no effort at all. Wonderful.

Doyle stokes in a thousand shrewd touches with no effort at all. Wonderful.

To say that man is a reasoning animal is a very different thing than to...

To say that man is a reasoning animal is a very different thing than to...

Everything in a story should be credible.

Everything in a story should be credible.