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I Have Often Had Occasion To Notice How, Where A Direct Question Would Fail To Elicit A Response, A False Assumption Brings Instant Information In The Form Of A Contradiction.
-Agatha Christie
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I Have Often Had

Agatha Christie
I Have Often Had Occasion To Notice How, Where A Direct Question Would Fail To Elicit A Response, A False Assumption Brings Instant Information In The Form Of A Contradiction.
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Topic
Information
Assumption
Failing
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Trouble
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Taken
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Simple
Achievement
Great Inventions
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Men
Feet
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Justice
Important
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Missing
Meals
Mystery
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Children
Judging
Doubt
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Bitterness
Turns
Eternal
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Spiritual
War
Thinking
Good Advice Is Always Certain To Be Ignored, But That's No Reason Not To Give It.
Inspirational
Christian
Mother And Daughter
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Loss
People
Looks
One Of The Saddest Things In Life, Is The Things One Remembers.
Reflection
Things In Life
Remember
Everybody Always Knows Something," Said Adam, "even If It's Something They Don't Know They Know.
Adam
Said
Knows
You Don't Realize What Fine Fighting Material There Is In Age. ... You Show Me Any One Who's Lived To Over Seventy And You Show Me A Fighter - Some One Who's Got The Will To Live.
Fighting
Age
Fighter
The Science Of Tomorrow Is The Supernatural Of Today.
Today
Tomorrow
But Surely For Everything You Love You Have To Pay Some Price.
Love You
Literature
Pay
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)
People
Doe
Violence
These Little Grey Cells. It Is Up To Them.
Cells
Literature
Littles
Poirot," I Said. "i Have Been Thinking." "an Admirable Exercise My Friend. Continue It.
Exercise
Thinking
Said
... The Belief In A Superstratum Of Human Beings ... Is The Most Evil Of All Beliefs. For When You Say, 'i Am Not As Other Men' -- You Have Lost The Two Most Valuable Qualities We Have Ever Tried To Attain: -- Humility And Brotherhood.
Humility
Men
Two
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Appeals
Tempted
Where Large Sums Of Money Are Concerned, It Is Advisable To Trust Nobody.
Trust
Money
Memorable
Fiction Is Founded On Truth....unless Things Did Happen,people Couldn't Think Of Them.
Thinking
People
Fiction
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Youth
Failing
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Men
Umpires
Evil
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Mad
Water
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Running
Lying
Long
The Rottenness Comes From Within.
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Murder Mysteries
Literature
Quiet
I Have Often Had Occasion To Notice How, Where A Direct Question Would Fail To Elicit A Response, A False Assumption Brings Instant Information In The Form Of A Contradiction.
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Assumption
Failing
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Real
Hair
Differences
I Am All That There Is Of The Most Real.
Real
The Things Young Women Read Nowadays And Profess To Enjoy Positively Frighten Me.
Young
Enjoy
Young Women
Those Who Never Think Of Money Need A Great Deal Of It.
Thinking
Needs
Deals
I Admit," I Said, "that A Second Murder In A Book Often Cheers Things Up." - Hastings
Cheer
Book
Murder
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Return
Nostalgia
Courses
To Win A War Is As Disasterous As To Lose One.
War
Winning
Loses
Curious Things, Habits. People Themselves Never Knew They Had Them. [witness For The Prosecution, Also Published In The Hound Of Death And Other Stories.]
People
Stories
Habit
You Want Beauty,' Said Hercules Poirot. 'beauty At Any Price. For Me, It Is Truth. I Want Always Truth.
Healing
Want
Said
I Always Think Loyalty's Such A Tiresome Virtue.
Loyalty
Thinking
Virtue
In My End Is My Beginning - That's What People Are Always Saying. But What Does It Mean?
Mean
People
Doe
Who Are You? You Don't Belong To The Police?' 'i Am Better Than The Police,' Said Poirot. He Said It Without Conscious Arrogance. It Was, To Him, A Simple Statement Of Fact.
Simple
Police
Arrogance
What I Feel Is That If One Has Got To Have A Murder Actually Happening In One's House, One Might As Well Enjoy It, If You Know What I Mean.
Mean
House
Might
Don't Think. That Is The Wrong Way To Bring Anything Back. Let It Go. Sooner Or Later It Will Flash Into Your Mind.
Thinking
Mind
Let It Go
One Of Us In This Very Room Is In Fact The Murderer.
Facts
Rooms
Murderer
If You Confront Anyone Who Has Lied With The Truth, He Will Usually Admit It - Often Out Of Sheer Surprise. It Is Only Necessary To Guess Right To Produce Your Effect.
Surprise
Lied
Produce
You Agree - I'm Sure You Agree That Beauty Is The Only Thing Worth Living For.
Self Esteem
Agree
Esteem
You Cannot Give To People What They Are Incapable Of Receiving.
People
Giving
Receiving
There's Nothing So Dangerous For Anyone Who Has Something To Hide As Conversation.
Conversation
Dangerous
If You Love, You Will Suffer, And If You Do Not Love, You Do Not Know The Meaning Of A Christian Life.
Christian
Love You
Suffering
The Human Face Is, After All, Nothing More Nor Less Than A Mask.
Faces
Mask
Humans
I Can Think Of Nothing More Soul Destroying In Life Than To Persist In Trying To Do A Thing You Want Desperately To Do Well, And To Know That You Are At The Best Second Rate.
Happiness
Success
Thinking
Hercule Poirot: I Am An Imbecile. I See Only Half Of The Picture. Miss Lemon: I Don't Even See That.
Missing
Half
Imbeciles
Until One Looks Back On One's Own Past One Fails To Realise What An Extraordinary View Of The World A Child Has.
Children
Past
Views
To All Those Who Lead Monotonous Lives In The Hope That They May Experience At Second Hand The Delights And Dangers Of Adventure. [author's Dedication]
Adventure
Dedication
Monotonous Life
There Is Evil Everywhere Under The Sun.
Evil
Sun
Of Course I Despise Money When I Haven't Got Any. It's The Only Dignified Thing To Do.
Despise
Things To Do
Courses
Liking Is More Important Than Loving. It Lasts. I Want What Is Between Us To Last, Luke. I Don't Want Us Just To Love Each Other And Marry And Get Tired Of Each Other And Then Want To Marry Some One Else.
Tired
Reality
Important
Vous Eprouves Trop D'emotion, Hastings, It Affects Your Hands And Your Wits. Is That A Way To Fold A Coat? And Regard What You Have Done To My Pyjamas. If The Hairwash Breaks What Will Befall Them?' 'good Heavens, Poirot,' I Cried, 'this Is A Matter Of Life And Death. What Does It Matter What Happens To Our Clothes?' 'you Have No Sense Of Proportion Hastings. We Cannot Catch A Train Earlier Than The Time That It Leaves, And To Ruin One's Clothes Will Not Be The Least Helpful In Preventing A Murder.
Hands
Clothes
Life And Death
When Engaged In Eating, The Brain Should Be The Servant Of The Stomach.
Brain
Eating
Should
A Man Doesn't Wasnt To Feel That A Woman Cares More For Him Than He Cares For Her. He Doesn't Want To Feel Owned, Body And Soul. It's That Damned Possessive Attitude. This Man Is Mine---he Belongs To Me! He Wants To Get Away --- To Get Free. He Wants To Own His Woman; He Doesn't Want Her To Own Him.(simon Boyle)
Attitude
Men
Soul
One Of The Oddest Things In Life, As We All Know, Is The Way That When You Have Heard A Thing Mentioned, Within Twenty-four Hours You Nearly Always Come Across It Again.
Things In Life
Twenties
Four
What They Need Is A Little Immorality In Their Lives. Then They Wouldn't Be So Busy Looking For It In Other People's.
People
Littles
Needs
Most Successes Are Unhappy. That's Why They Are Successes - They Have To Reassure Themselves About Themselves By Achieving Something That The World Will Notice.
Happiness
Suffering
Atheism
Self-preservation's A Man's First Duty. And Natives Don't Mind Dying, You Know. They Don't Feel About It As Europeans Do.
Men
Self
Mind
He Was Very Much A Man Of Moods, Possibly Owing To What Is Styled The Artistic Temperment. I Have Never Seen, Myself, Why The Possession Of Artistic Ability Should Be Supposed To Excuse A Man From A Decent Exercise Of Self-control.
Exercise
Men
Self
Nurses - Nurses, You'm All The Same. Full Of Cheerfulness Over Other People's Troubles.
Nurse
People
Trouble
Men Don't Understand How Their Mannerisms Can Get On Women's Nerves So That You Feel You Just Have To Snap.
Men
Nerves
Feels
"i Think You're Begging The Question," Said Haydock, "and I Can See Looming Ahead One Of Those Terrible Exercises In Probability Where Six Men Have White Hats And Six Men Have Black Hats And You Have To Work It Out By Mathematics How Likely It Is That The Hats Will Get Mixed Up And In What Proportion. If You Start Thinking About Things Like That, You Would Go Round The Bend. Let Me Assure You Of That!"
Math
Exercise
Men
To Put It Quite Crudely ... The Poor Don't Really Know How The Rich Live, And The Rich Don't Know How The Poor Live, And To Find Out Is Really Enchanting To Both Of Them.
Rich
Poor
Enchanting
Dogs Are Wise. They Crawl Away Into A Quiet Corner And Lick Their Wounds And Do Not Rejoin The World Until They Are Whole Once More.
Wise
Wisdom
Dog
Coffee In England Always Tastes Like A Chemistry Experiment.
Coffee
Taste
England
I Learned ... That One Can Never Go Back, That One Should Not Ever Try To Go Back - That The Essence Of Life Is Going Forward. Life Is Really A One Way Street, Isn't It?
Essence
Trying
Way
The Simplest Explanation Is Always The Most Likely.
Explanation
Simplest
No Innocent Person Ever Has An Alibi.
Innocent Person
Innocent
Persons
It Is Ridiculous To Set A Detective Story In New York City. New York City Is Itself A Detective Story.
New York
Writing
Cities
Understanding Quotes: Their Essence and Application

Quotes, or quotations, are powerful tools in communication, encapsulating ideas, emotions, and wisdom in concise expressions. They serve various purposes across different contexts, from academic writing to everyday conversation.

1. Defining Quotes

A quote is a repetition of someone else's statement or thoughts. It can be a direct replication of words spoken or written by another individual, often used to support arguments, provide evidence, or convey profound insights.


2. The Importance of Quotes

2.1. Enhancing Credibility

Incorporating quotes from authoritative sources can bolster the credibility of your work. By referencing experts or primary sources, you demonstrate thorough research and a solid foundation for your arguments.


2.2. Providing Evidence

Quotes serve as concrete evidence to support claims. In academic and professional writing, they validate points made, offering readers a basis to trust the information presented.


2.3. Conveying Emotions and Perspectives

Quotes can encapsulate emotions and perspectives succinctly. They allow writers to express complex feelings or viewpoints through the words of others, often more eloquently than paraphrasing.


3. Types of Quotes

3.1. Direct Quotes

Direct quotes involve copying the exact words from a source, enclosed in quotation marks. They are used when the original wording is significant or particularly well-expressed.


3.2. Indirect Quotes (Paraphrasing)

Indirect quotes restate the original message in your own words. While not enclosed in quotation marks, they still require proper attribution to the original source.


3.3. Block Quotes

Block quotes are lengthy direct quotations, formatted as a separate block of text. They are typically used for quotes exceeding a certain length, varying by citation style. For instance, in APA style, quotes longer than 40 words are formatted as block quotes.



4. Proper Usage of Quotes


4.1. Contextual Relevance

Ensure that the quote you choose is relevant to the topic and adds value to your content. Avoid inserting quotes solely for decorative purposes.


4.2. Integration into Your Writing

Seamlessly integrate quotes into your writing. Introduce them appropriately and follow up with analysis or commentary to connect them to your main points.


4.3. Attribution and Citation

Always attribute quotes to their original authors and provide proper citations according to the required style guide (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).


5. Common Mistakes to Avoid


5.1. Overusing Quotes

Relying too heavily on quotes can overshadow your voice. Use them sparingly to support your arguments, not replace them.


5.2. Lack of Analysis

Presenting a quote without analysis or explanation can leave readers questioning its relevance. Always follow up with your interpretation or discussion.


5.3. Misquoting or Taking Out of Context

Ensure that quotes are accurate and not taken out of context, as this can mislead readers and undermine your credibility.



6. Quotes in Different Contexts


6.1. Academic Writing

In academic writing, quotes are used to support arguments, provide evidence, and engage with existing literature. Proper citation is crucial to avoid plagiarism.


6.2. Journalism

Journalists use quotes to provide firsthand accounts, add authenticity, and present multiple perspectives within a story.


6.3. Literature and Creative Writing

In literature, quotes can be used to convey character voices, themes, and stylistic elements. They enrich narratives and provide depth to storytelling.



7. Punctuation and Formatting


Understanding the correct punctuation and formatting of quotes is essential:


Quotation Marks: Always enclose direct quotes within quotation marks.


Punctuation Placement: In American English, periods and commas are placed inside quotation marks, while colons and semicolons are placed outside.


Block Quotes: For longer quotes, format them as block quotes without quotation marks, and indent the entire block.



8. Ethical Considerations


Ethical use of quotes involves accurate representation, proper attribution, and respect for intellectual property. Misuse can lead to plagiarism, which carries serious academic and professional consequences.

9. Tools for Managing Quotes


Utilize tools like citation generators and plagiarism checkers to manage quotes effectively. These tools help ensure proper formatting and originality in your writing.



Conclusion


Quotes are invaluable in enriching content, providing evidence, and conveying complex ideas succinctly. When used appropriately, they enhance the quality and credibility of your writing. Always ensure relevance, proper integration, and ethical usage to maximize their impact.


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