Agatha Christie - Poirot Quotes

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The intense interest aroused in the public by what was known at the time as "The Styles Case" has now somewhat subsided. Nevertheless, in view of the world-wide notoriety which attended it, I have been asked, both by my friend Poirot and the family themselves, to write an account of the whole story. This, we trust, will effectually silence the sensational rumours which still persist.

Agatha Christie
There's no reason why women shouldn't behave like rational beings, said Simon stolidly.
Poirot said dryly:
Quite frequently they do. That is even more upsetting!

Agatha Christie
I don't think I shall ever forget my first sight of Hercule Poirot. Of course, I got used to him later on, but to begin with it was a shock, and I think everyone else must have felt the same! I don't know what I'd imagined — something like Sherlock Holmes — [...] Of course, I knew he was a foreigner, but I hadn't expected him to be quite as foreign as he was, if you know what I mean. When you saw him you just wanted to laugh! He was like something on the stage or at the pictures. [...] He looked like a hairdresser in a comic play!

Agatha Christie
"I saw a particular personage and I threatened him — yes, Mademoiselle, I, Hercule Poirot, threatened him."
"With the police?"
"No," said Poirot drily, "With the Press — a much more deadly weapon."

Agatha Christie
Is he then an unhappy man?
Poirot said:
So unhappy that he has forgotten what happiness means. So unhappy that he does not know he is unhappy.
The nun said softly:
Ah, a rich man…

Agatha Christie
I like to see an angry Englishman, said Poirot. They are very amusing. The more emotional they feel the less command they have of language.

Agatha Christie
And yet," said Poirot, "suppose an accident-" "Ah, no, my friend-" "From your point of view it would be regrettable, I agree. But nevertheless let us just for one moment suppose it. Then, perhaps, all these here are linked together - by death.

Agatha Christie
Poirot," I said. "I have been thinking." "An admirable exercise my friend. Continue it.

Agatha Christie
It is the quietest and meekest people who are often capable of the most sudden and unexpected violences for the reason that when their control does snap, it goes entirely. (Hercule Poirot)

Agatha Christie
You have been to the Riviera before, Georges? said Poirot to his valet the following morning.
George was an intensely English, rather wooden-faced individual.
Yes, sir. I was here two years ago when I was in the service of Lord Edward Frampton.
And today, murmured his master, you are here with Hercule Poirot. How one mounts in the world!

Agatha Christie
"This affair must all be unraveled from within." He [Hercufe Poirot] tapped his forehead. "These little gray cells. It is 'up to them'—as you say over here."

Agatha Christie
On the seat opposite him was an American tourist. The pattern of his clothes, of his overcoat, the grip he carried, down to his hopeful friendliness and his naïve absorption in the scenery, even the guidebook in his hand, all gave him away and proclaimed him a small town American seeing Europe for the first time. In another minute or so, Poirot judged, he would break into speech. His wistful dog-like expression could not be mistaken.

Agatha Christie
I like to inquire into everything. Hercule Poirot is a good dog. The good dog follows the scent, and if, regrettably, there is no scent to follow, he noses around — seeking always something that is not very nice.

Agatha Christie
The English are very stupid, said Poirot. They think that they can deceive anyone but that no one can deceive them.

Agatha Christie
But how much are the delicate convolutions of the brain influenced by the digestive apparatus? When the mal de mere seizes me I, Hercule Poirot, am a creature with no grey cells, no order, no method — a mere member of the human race somewhere below average intelligence!

Agatha Christie
Oh, dear, it's quite true what Dr. Reilly said. How does one stop writing? If I could find a really good telling phrase... Like the one M. Poirot used. In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate... Something like that.

Agatha Christie
That is what I mean. A bath! The receptacle of porcelain, one turns the taps and fills it, one gets in, one gets out and ghoosh - ghoosh - ghoosh, the water goes down the waste pipe!" "M. Poirot are you quite mad?" "No, I am extremely sane.

Agatha Christie
"Nothing", I said sadly. "They are two delightful women!" "And neither of them is for you?" finished Poirot. "Never mind. Console yourself, my friend. We may hunt together again, who knows?"

Agatha Christie
Mademoiselle, I said, it is sometimes difficult for a dog to find a scent, but once he has found it, nothing on earth will make him leave it! That is if he is a good dog! And I, mademoiselle, I, Hercule Poirot, am a very good dog.

Agatha Christie
Well, what are you doing? What have you done?
I am sitting in this char, said Poirot. Thinking, he added.
Is that all? said Mrs. Oliver.
It is the important thing, said Poirot.

Agatha Christie
Poirot said placidly, One does not, you know, employ merely the muscles. I do not need to bend and measure the footprints and pick up the cigarette ends and examine the bent blades of grass. It is enough for me to sit back in my chair and think. It is this – he tapped his egg-shaped head – this, that functions!

Agatha Christie
Poirot twinkled at her gently.

Agatha Christie
Ah! Poirot shook his forefinger so fiercely at me that I quailed before it. Beware! Peril to the detective who says: 'It is so small—it does not matter. It will not agree. I will forget it.' That way lies confusion! Everything matters.

Agatha Christie
There are more important things than finding the murderer. And justice is a fine word, but it is sometimes difficult to say exactly what one means by it. In my opinion, the important thing is to clear the innocent. - Hercule Poirot

Agatha Christie
Tcha! Tcha! cried Poirot irritably. You argue like a child.

Agatha Christie
What's wrong with my proposition?" Poirot rose. "If you will forgive me for being personal-I do not like your face, M. Ratchett.

Agatha Christie
Tout de même, said Poirot, since I cannot find anything, eh bien, then the logic falls out of the window.

Agatha Christie
You do well. Method and order, they are everything, replied Poirot.

Agatha Christie
It would be difficult Bland thought, to forget Hercule Poirot, and this not entirely for complimentary reasons.

Agatha Christie
I have no pity for myself either. So let it be veronal. But I wish Hercule Poirot had never retired from work and come here to grow vegetable marrows.

Agatha Christie