The Mysterious Affair at Styles quotes

“You gave too much rein to your imagination. Imagination is a good servant, and a bad master. The simplest explanation is always the most likely.”

— Spoken by a character · V. “IT ISN’T STRYCHNINE, IS IT?”

Everything must be taken into account. If the fact will not fit the theory—let the theory go.

— Spoken by a character · V. “IT ISN’T STRYCHNINE, IS IT?”

“Every murderer is probably somebody’s old friend,” observed Poirot philosophically.

— Poirot · XI. THE CASE FOR THE PROSECUTION

“Instinct is a marvellous thing,” mused Poirot. “It can neither be explained nor ignored.”

— Spoken by a character · VIII. FRESH SUSPICIONS

An appreciative listener is always stimulating, and I described, in a humorous manner, certain incidents of my Convalescent Home, in a way which, I flatter myself, greatly amused my hostess.

when you find that people are not telling you the truth—look out!

— Poirot · VII. POIROT PAYS HIS DEBTS

This affair must all be unravelled from within.” He tapped his forehead. “These little grey cells. It is ‘up to them’—as you say over here.

— Spoken by a character · X. THE ARREST

“Real evidence is usually vague and unsatisfactory. It has to be examined—sifted. But here the whole thing is cut and dried. No, my friend, this evidence has been very cleverly manufactured—so cleverly that it has defeated its own ends.”

— Poirot · VII. POIROT PAYS HIS DEBTS

The happiness of one man and one woman is the greatest thing in all the world.

— Poirot · XIII. POIROT EXPLAINS

“I did not deceive you, mon ami. At most, I permitted you to deceive yourself.”

— Spoken by a character · XIII. POIROT EXPLAINS

There are times when it is one’s duty to assert oneself.

“A good conscience makes a sound sleeper,” he observed.

— Spoken by a character · VI. THE INQUEST