Tidbits of advice and exaggeration from Raymond Chandler — prose worth rolling across the tongue and savoring.

... on writing:

Throw up into your typewriter every morning. Clean up every noon.

... on ego:

You talk too damn much and too damn much of it is about you.

... on tension:

There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands' necks. Anything can happen. You can even get a full glass of beer at a cocktail lounge.

... on coyness:

She lowered her lashes until they almost cuddled her cheeks and slowly raised them again, like a theatre curtain. I was to get to know that trick. That was supposed to make me roll over on my back with all four paws in the air.

... on contrast:

He looked about as inconspicuous as a tarantula on a slice of angel food cake.

... on life:

As honest as you can expect a man to be in a world where it's going out of style.

(cf The Simple Art of Murder (2005-12-04), The Thin Man (2006-01-21), Trouble Is My Business (2008-07-20), ...) - ^z - 2020-11-08