McNally's Luck Quotes

“I drove home in a State of Utter: utterly startled, utterly confused, utterly flummoxed.”
― Lawrence Sanders, McNally's Luck

“It’s obvious the guy was nuts about her. I’m not saying he was temporarily insane; let’s just say that after meeting Irma he became mentally disadvantaged.”
― Lawrence Sanders, McNally's Luck

“It is my conviction that solemnity is the curse of civilization. Think of all the earnest people who have sacrificed themselves for gods now forgotten or wasted their lives on causes no one remembers. Laughter is our only salvation. Pray with a giggle and mourn with a smile. And if you happen to believe, as I do, that women are nature’s noblest work, know ye that long face ne’er won fair lady.”
― Lawrence Sanders, McNally's Luck

“I visited four jewelry shops before I found a bracelet that appealed to me: two-carat, cushion-cut diamonds set in 18K gold. It was horribly expensive, but I handed over my plastic gaily, following McNally’s First Law of Shopping: If you can afford it, it’s not worth buying.”
― Lawrence Sanders, McNally's Luck

“Have you ever noticed that some people aren’t happy unless they’re unhappy?”
― Lawrence Sanders, McNally's Luck

“I returned to shower and dress with particular care. I intended to dazzle Meg Trumble with sartorial splendor, which was why I selected a knitted shirt of plum-colored Sea Island cotton and a linen sport jacket of British racing green. Slacks of fawn silk. Cordovan loafers. No socks. I displayed this costume at the family cocktail hour. “Good God!” my father gasped. I prayed Meg would be more favorably impressed by my imitation of a male bower bird.”
― Lawrence Sanders, McNally's Luck

“Al looked at me and shook his head in wonderment. “You know,” he said, “you have the testicles of a brazen simian.”
― Lawrence Sanders, McNally's Luck

“Sounds good to me,” I said. “Can I bring something to lubricate your tonsils?” “Nah,” he said, “I have a bottle of wine I’ll pop. It’s a naive domestic burgundy without any breeding, but I think you’ll be amused by its presumption.”
― Lawrence Sanders, McNally's Luck

“Connie and I had vodka gimlets to start, and we both went for Leroy’s special of the day: a grilled grouper sandwich with spicy french fries, served with a salad of Bibb lettuce, red onions, and a vinaigrette sauce. A winner. Connie attacked her food with enthusiasm and didn’t mention a word about proteins, cholesterol, or fat, for which I was thankful. Nutrition nuts are the world’s most boring dining companions. They make every bite a guilt trip, which forces me to gorge to prove my disdain for calories. I mean, if God had wanted us to nibble, He wouldn’t have created veal cordon bleu.”
― Lawrence Sanders, McNally's Luck

“What a peremptory woman she was! I wondered what had happened to her husband. Had he died of frustration because he couldn’t get a word in edgewise? Or had he divorced her for a more docile woman who welcomed small talk and could schmooze for hours about his gastritis and her bunions? My own guess was that Irma’s husband went out to buy a loaf of bread, vamoosed, and was now employed as a tobacco auctioneer.”
― Lawrence Sanders, McNally's Luck

“Because I seem to be causing such a foofaraw. Isn’t that a lovely word? I’ve wanted to use it for ages.”
― Lawrence Sanders, McNally's Luck

“Would you care to have dinner with me tonight?” “What?” she said, startled. “Dinner. Tonight. You. Me.” “I don’t—” she said, confused. “I shouldn’t—I better—Perhaps if—” I waited patiently. “May I pay my own way?” she asked finally. “Keep talking that way,” I said, “and you’ll be asked to resign from the female sex. No, you may not pay your own way. I’m inviting you to have dinner with me. Ergo, you will be my guest.”
― Lawrence Sanders, McNally's Luck

“Jamie Olson was seated in the kitchen, slurping from a mug of black coffee. We exchanged matutinal greetings,”
― Lawrence Sanders, McNally's Luck

“There he married one of his students, Lydia Barkham. She was heiress to a fortune in old money accumulated by a Rhode Island family that began by making string, graduated to rope, moved on to steel cables, and eventually sold out to a Japanese conglomerate at such a humongous price that one financial commentator termed it “Partial revenge for Pearl Harbor.”
― Lawrence Sanders, McNally's Luck

“I found it amazing that the two were sisters. I could see a slight resemblance in their features, but their carcasses were totally dissimilar. If they stood side by side, Meg on the left, they’d look like the number 18.”
― Lawrence Sanders, McNally's Luck

“I gave her the 100-watt smile I call my Supercharmer. My Jumbocharmer hits 150, but I didn’t want to unnerve her.”
― Lawrence Sanders, McNally's Luck