Rex Stout Quotes

Powerful Rex Stout for Daily Growth

About Rex Stout

Rex Stout (May 1, 1886 – October 27, 1975) was a prolific American crime fiction author, best known for his detective novels featuring the characters Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. Born in New York City, Stout showed an early aptitude for storytelling and literature; he published his first short stories while still in high school. After graduating from Columbia University, Stout worked as a businessman but continued to write and publish fiction on the side. In 1924, Stout's first novel, "The Stranger Within," was published, though it would be another decade before he achieved significant success. This came in 1934 with the introduction of Nero Wolfe, a brilliant but eccentric detective who rarely left his brownstone on West Thirty-Fifth Street in Manhattan. Wolfe's trusted assistant, Archie Goodwin, often navigated the streets and solved cases based on Wolfe's armchair deductions. The first novel featuring this duo, "Fer-de-Lance," was published in 1934, launching a series that would span over thirty novels and numerous short stories. Throughout his career, Stout wrote more than eighty books, many of which were New York Times bestsellers. His works are characterized by their witty dialogue, complex plots, and vivid characterizations. Stout's influence on the crime fiction genre is significant, with Nero Wolfe often cited as one of the great detective characters in literature. Despite his success as a writer, Stout remained largely private, preferring to let his work speak for itself. He continued writing until his death in 1975 at the age of eighty-nine. Today, Rex Stout's novels remain popular and continue to be reprinted and adapted for various media.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"There is no limit to what a man can do, if he does not mind who gets the credit."

This quote emphasizes the idea that an individual has boundless potential for achievement when personal recognition or accolades are not their primary motivation. It suggests that selflessness and a focus on the work itself rather than personal glory can lead to remarkable accomplishments. The quote encourages us to prioritize progress over personal gain, fostering collaboration and teamwork in pursuit of common goals.

"Nine times out of ten, it's just a little thing that gives a case away."

This quote suggests that in most cases (90%), solving a problem or cracking a case is often not about uncovering grand conspiracies or significant pieces of evidence, but rather finding the seemingly insignificant, minor details - "a little thing" - which can provide crucial insights and lead to the resolution.

"The secret of life is this: One is always nearer when one is a little further on."

This quote emphasizes the importance of personal growth and progress in life. It suggests that the path to understanding, wisdom, or success often lies beyond our immediate reach, encouraging us to push past our current boundaries to find new insights and perspectives. In essence, Rex Stout's quote underscores that the journey towards self-discovery is a continuous one, with each step bringing us closer to our goals and enriching our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

"Wisdom consists not so much in knowing what to do as knowing what to forbear."

This quote by Rex Stout highlights the importance of self-restraint and patience in decision-making. It suggests that true wisdom lies not only in recognizing the right actions but also in understanding when it's better to withhold an action, avoid taking a step, or let things unfold naturally. In other words, being wise means knowing what not to do can be just as valuable as knowing what to do.

"It isn't crime, exactly, it's just that most people aren't very good at being honest about things."

This quote by Rex Stout suggests a general observation about human nature, implying that dishonesty or untruthfulness is pervasive in society, as many individuals struggle with honesty, not necessarily committing crimes but rather hiding truths in various aspects of their lives. It underscores the notion that people often find it challenging to be straightforward and transparent in their interactions.

To say that man is a reasoning animal is a very different thing than to say that most of man's decisions are based on his rational process. That I don't believe at all.

- Rex Stout

Process, Very, Based, Different Thing

I have never regarded myself as this or that. I have been too busy being myself to bother about regarding myself.

- Rex Stout

Myself, Been, Bother, Regarding

Hemingway never grew out of adolescence. His scope and depth stayed shallow because he had no idea what women are for.

- Rex Stout

Idea, Had, Hemingway, Women Are

Every Sherlock Holmes story has at least one marvelous scene.

- Rex Stout

Holmes, At Least One, Least, Marvelous

The minute those two little particles inside a woman's womb have joined together, billions of decisions have been made. A thing like that has to come from entropy.

- Rex Stout

Woman, Been, Billions, Womb

If I'm home with no chore at hand, and a package of books has come, the television set and the chess board and the unanswered mail will have to manage without me if one of the books is a detective story.

- Rex Stout

Chess, Package, Set, Manage

One of the hardest things to believe is that anyone will abandon the effort to escape a charge of murder. It is extremely important to suspend disbelief on that. If you don't, the story is spoiled.

- Rex Stout

Will, Charge, Suspend, Disbelief

The Glass Key is better than anything Hemingway ever wrote.

- Rex Stout

Better, Glass, Ever, Hemingway

I think one or two of the later Holmes stories are among the best.

- Rex Stout

Think, I Think, Later, Holmes

As a professional writer of detective stories, I string along with the ballplayers. I love a ball game.

- Rex Stout

Love, Game, Stories, Detective

To read of a detective's daring finesse or ingenious stratagem is a rare joy.

- Rex Stout

Stratagem, Ingenious, Read, Detective

A character who is thought-out is not born, he or she is contrived. A born character is round, a thought-out character is flat.

- Rex Stout

Character, She, Round, Contrived

There are two kinds of statistics, the kind you look up and the kind you make up.

- Rex Stout

Kind, Up, Kinds, Make Up

Doyle stokes in a thousand shrewd touches with no effort at all. Wonderful.

- Rex Stout

Effort, Wonderful, Thousand, Shrewd

I have a strong moral sense - by my standards.

- Rex Stout

Strong, Standards, Sense, Moral

Everything in a story should be credible.

- Rex Stout

Story, Everything, Should, Credible

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