The Case of the Baited Hook Quotes

“The best fighters don’t worry about what the other man may do. And if they keep things moving fast enough, the other man is too busy to do much thinking.”
― Erle Stanley Gardner, The Case of the Baited Hook

“Loftus clenched his right fist, extended it in front of him, and gently lowered it to the desk. There was something more impressive in the gesture than would have been the case had he banged the top of the desk with explosive violence. “I don’t like criminal lawyers,” he said. “Neither do I,” Mason admitted, seating himself in what appeared to be the most comfortable chair in the office. “But you’re a criminal lawyer.” “It depends upon what you mean,” Mason observed. “I’m a lawyer. I’m not a criminal.” “You defend criminals.” “What is your definition of a criminal?” Mason asked. “A man who has committed a crime.” “And who decides that he has committed a crime?” “Why, a jury, I suppose.” “Exactly,” Mason said, with a smile. “So far, I have been very fortunate in having juries agree with me that the persons I represented were not criminals.” Loftus said, “That isn’t conclusive.” “Judges think it is,” Mason said, still smiling.”
― Erle Stanley Gardner, The Case of the Baited Hook

“I didn’t ask for much money, Mr. Mason, only enough to get by on. I figured that the world owed me a living.”
― Erle Stanley Gardner, The Case of the Baited Hook