Noirs Quotes & Sayings

To her who gives and takes back all, to nature, the man who is instructed and modest says, Give what thou wilt; take back what thou wilt. And he says this not proudly, but obediently and well pleased with her. — Marcus Aurelius

The most celebrated system of jurisprudence known to the world begins, as it ends, with a Code. — Henry James Sumner Maine

If there is no God, why bother to tell the truth? Why not steal? — Ben Stein

A library's ideal function is to be a little bit like a bouquiniste's stall, a place for trouvailles. — Umberto Eco

Richard Stark writes a harsh and frightening story of criminal warfare and vengeance with economy, understatement and a deadly amoral objectivity-a remarkable addition to the list of the shockers that the French call roman noirs. — Anthony Boucher

I can count the number of great Cabernets I made at Beaulieu only by taking off my socks and shoes, but I can count the number of great Pinot Noirs on one hand with change left over. — Andre Tchelistcheff

I don't have a style. I just try to write what the story demands. — Helen Oyeyemi

I also wonder why is it that so many of the movies and books that are detective stories are also the most aesthetically interesting? From Hollywood noirs to horror movies like The Shining [1980]. — Christopher Bollen

Bad taste
creates many more millionaires than good taste. It finally
boiled down to a matter of who got the most votes. In the
land of the moles a mole was king — Charles Bukowski