The problem with putting two and two together is that sometimes you ge — Dashiell Hammett

"Emotions are useless during business hours."

"All successful bunko men come in time to believe the world, except for themselves, is populated with a race of human sheep who may be trusted to conduct themselves with true sheeplike docility."

"I didnt know then, and I dont know now, whether she was the owner of the worlds best poker face or was just naturally stupid, but whichever she was, she was thoroughly and completely it."

"But where knowledge of trickery is evenly distributed, honesty not infrequently prevails."

"Remember, Ive got no idea what this is all about," said the girl when they were in the living room, a narrow room, where blue fought with red without ever compromising on purple."

"If a man says a thing often enough, he is very likely to acquire some sort of faith in it sooner or later."