4 Quotes & Sayings By John Dickson Carr

John Dickson Carr (1906–1977) was a prolific author of crime fiction and mystery stories. His mystery novels, characters and plots were based on his own research and experience as a journalist, lecturer and private detective. He published almost ninety books during his career and was a regular contributor to magazines and newspapers. His books have been translated into twenty-two languages and adapted for television and film.

1
The poor fool hadn't realized that if all mankind shares a folly or an illusion, and likes to share it even knowing what it is, then the illusion is much more valuable and fine a kind of thing than the ass who wants to upset it. John Dickson Carr
2
Alan Campbell opened one eye. From somewhere in remote distances, muffled beyond sight or sound, his soul crawled back painfully, through subterranean corridors, up into his body again. Toward the last it moved to a cacophony of hammers and lights. Then he was awake. The first eye was bad enough. But, when he opened his second eye, such as rush of anguish flowed through his brain that he hastily closed them again. John Dickson Carr
3
It’s all very well to have your eight suspects parading in their endless ring-around-the-rosebush outside the library. That’s fine. But give some sensible reason why they were there. If you must shower the room with bus tickets, provide a reason for that too. In other words, construct your story. Your present problem is not to explain the villainy of the guilty: it’s to explain the stupidity of the innocent. John Dickson Carr