The Red Box Quotes

“Nothing is more admirable than the fortitude with which millionaires tolerate the disadvantages of their wealth.”
― Rex Stout, The Red Box

“As I understand it, a born executive is a guy who, when anything difficult or unexpected happens, yells for somebody to come and help him.”
― Rex Stout, The Red Box

“Being a lover of beauty, I permitted myself occasional glances at her profile, and observed that her chin was even better from that angle than from the front. Of course there was an off chance that she was a murderess, but you can’t have everything”
― Rex Stout, The Red Box

“They say it works sometimes, but even if it does, how could you depend on anything you got that way? Not to mention that after you did it a few times any decent garbage can would be ashamed to have you found in it.”
― Rex Stout, The Red Box

“I followed the pavement a little over a mile and then turned left again onto a dirt road. It was as narrow as a bigot’s mind, and I got in the ruts and stayed there.”
― Rex Stout, The Red Box

“I said, “Oh, yes. Mr. Frisbie. Since you say you must talk with Mr. Wolfe himself, can I get you a book or something? The morning paper? He will be down at eleven.” Frisbie’s fingertips parted. He demanded, “He’s here, isn’t he?” “Certainly. He’s never anywhere else.” “Then—I won’t wait an hour. I was warned to expect this. I won’t tolerate it.” I shrugged. “Okay. I’ll make it as easy as I can for you. Do you want to look at the morning paper while you’re not tolerating it?”
― Rex Stout, The Red Box

“Wolfe sighed. “He has been explaining the machinery of the Irish sweepstakes. If bees handled their affairs like that, no hive would have enough honey to last the winter.” “But a few bees would be rolling in it.” “I suppose so.”
― Rex Stout, The Red Box

“I slapped a yawn. “Excuse it, I only had six hours’ sleep. I’ll swear I don’t know what I can say to convince you. Why don’t you run up and have a talk with Wolfe?” “What for? I can see it. I sit down and explain to him why I think he’s a liar. He says ‘indeed’ and shuts his eyes and opens them again when he gets ready to ring for beer. He ought to start a brewery. Some great men, when they die, leave their brains to a scientific laboratory. Wolfe ought to leave his stomach.”
― Rex Stout, The Red Box

“Some day, Archie, I shall be constrained … but no. I cannot remake the universe, and must therefore put up with this one. What is, is, including you.” He sighed.”
― Rex Stout, The Red Box

“At any rate, as far as you know, he doesn’t work, and you don’t like that.” “I don’t like that in anyone.” “Remarkable sentiment for an heiress.”
― Rex Stout, The Red Box

“Anyway, she gave the fricandeau a play which made Wolfe regard her with open approval. He carried the burden of the conversation, chiefly about Egypt, tiles, the uses of a camel’s double lip, and the theory that England’s colonizing genius was due to her repulsive climate, on account of which Britons with any sense and willpower invariably decided to go somewhere else to work. It was two-thirty when the salad was finished, so we went back to the office and had Fritz serve coffee there.”
― Rex Stout, The Red Box

“It is not the work.” Wolfe wiggled a finger at him. “It is simply that I will not permit my self-conceit to be bruised by the sort of handling you are trying to give it. It is true that I hire out my abilities for money, but I assure you that I am not to be regarded as a mere peddler of gewgaws or tricks. I am an artist or nothing. Would you commission Matisse to do a painting, and, when he had scribbled his first rough sketch, snatch it from him and crumple it up and tell him, ‘That’s enough, how much do I owe you?’ No, you wouldn’t do that. You think the comparison is fanciful? I don’t. Every artist has his own conceit. I have mine. I know you are young, and your training has left vacant lots in your brain; you don’t realize how offensively you have acted.”
― Rex Stout, The Red Box

“Wolfe, moving toward the door, said to her, 'It is a pleasure to earn a fee from a client like you. You can come to a yes or no without first encircling the globe.”
― Rex Stout, The Red Box

“If you’re so sure violence is inferior technique, you should have seen that exhibition; it was wonderful. They say it works sometimes, but even if it does, how could you depend on anything you got that way? Not to mention that after you had done it a few times any decent garbage can would be ashamed to have you found in it.”
― Rex Stout, The Red Box

“I had heard of this Frisbie, an Assistant District Attorney, but had never seen him. I observed, when he entered, that I hadn’t missed much. He was the window-dummy type—high collar, clothes pressed very nice, and embalmed stiff and cold. The only thing you could tell from his eyes was that his self-esteem almost hurt him.”
― Rex Stout, The Red Box

“That is always a triumph, to evade boredom.”
― Rex Stout, The Red Box