"If I had a razor, I'd cut your throat - just to see what ran out of it." "Caterpillar blood," I said. - Raymond Chandler

A city no worse than others, a city rich and vigorous and full of pride, a city lost and beaten and full of emptiness.

There are no vital and significant forms of art; there is only art, and precious little of that.

"Lucille has a dull life, Mr. Marlowe. She's stuck here with me and a PBX. And an itty-bitty diamond ring - so small I was ashamed to give it to her. But what can a man do? If he loves a girl, he'd like it to show on her finger."

Lucille held her left hand up and moved it around to get a flash from the little stone. "I hate it," she said. "I hate it like I hate the sunshine and the summer and the bright stars and the full moon. That's how I hate it".

I picked up the key and my suitcase and left them. A little more of that and I'd be falling in love with myself. I might even give myself a small unpretentious diamond ring.