Until you guys own your own souls you don't own mine. Until you guys can be trusted every time and always, in all times and conditions, to seek the truth out and find it and let the chips fall where they may—until that time comes, I have the right to listen to my conscience, and protect my client the best way I can. Until I'm sure you won't do him more harm than you'll do the truth good. Or until I'm hauled before somebody that can make me talk.

— Raymond Chandler

When I got home I mixed a stiff one and stood by the open window in the living room and sipped it and listened to the groundswell of traffic on Laurel Canyon Boulevard and looked at the glare of the big angry city hanging over the shoulder of the hills through which the boulevard had been cut. Far off the banshee wail of police or fire sirens rose and fell, never for very long completely silent. Twenty-four hours a day somebody is running, somebody else is trying to catch him. Out there in the night of a thousand crimes, people were dying, being maimed, cut by flying glass, crushed against steering wheels or under heavy tires. People were being beaten, robbed, strangled, raped, and murdered. People were hungry, sick; bored, desperate with loneliness or remorse or fear, angry, cruel, feverish, shaken by sobs. A city no worse than others, a city rich and vigorous and full of pride, a city lost and beaten and full of emptiness. It all depends on where you sit and what your own private score is. I didn't have one. I didn't care. Furthermore, I finished the drink and went to bed.

— Raymond Chandler

When in doubt, have a man come through the door with a gun in his hand.

— Raymond Chandler

Without magic, there is no art. Without art, there is no idealism. Without idealism, there is no integrity. Without integrity, there is nothing but production.

— Raymond Chandler

You can crab over the morning paper and kick the shins of the guy in the next seat at the movies and feel mean and discouraged and sneer at the politicians, but there are a lot of nice people in the world just the same.

— Raymond Chandler

You can make a lot of mistakes in just one lifetime. (I'll Be Waiting)

— Raymond Chandler

You like it in jail? It's not too bad. You don't meet the best people, but who the hell wants to?

— Raymond Chandler

You like it in jail?"" It's not too bad. You don't meet the best people, but who the hell wants to?

— Raymond Chandler

You like it in jail?'' It's not too bad. You don't meet the best people, but who the hell wants to?

— Raymond Chandler

You're broke, eh?" I have been shaking two nickels together for a month, trying to get them to mate.

— Raymond Chandler