S. S. Van Dine Quotes

There simply must be a corpse in a detective novel, and the deader the corpse the better.

Only, as long as we're going insane we may as well go the whole way. A mere shred of sanity is of no value.

There are few punishments too severe for a popular novel writer.

Giving full rein to one's cynicism as one goes along produces a normal outlet and maintains an emotional equilibrium.

But society is ignorant and venomous, devoid of any trace of insight or understanding. It exalts knavery, and worships stupidity. It crucifies the intelligent, and puts the diseased in dungeons.