On Secrets

"Your only safe secrets are those you have yourself forgotten."

Nero Wolfe
From Rex Stout, Death of a Doxy

On Statistics

"There are two kinds of statistics: the ones you look up, and the ones you make up."

Archie Goodwin
From Rex Stout, Death of a Doxy 

On Coincidences

“In a world that operates largely at random, coincidences are to be expected, but any one of them must always be mistrusted.”

Nero Wolfe
From Rex Stout, Champagne for One

On Idiots and Heros

“I have decided," he said, "that every man alive today is half idiot and half hero. Only heroes could survive in the maelstrom, and only idiots would want to.”

Nero Wolfe
From Rex Stout, The Doorbell Rang

On Writing Books

"Nothing corrupts a man so deeply as writing a book."

Nero Wolfe
From Rex Stout, The Mother Hunt

On Finishing Shogun

Whew. Finished Shogun. It clocks in at over 1,100 pages and took me nearly a month to read. This was my 50th book for the year, so I've hit my usual goal. I wanted this one to be a long one since I've read so many short books. Quick review – an enjoyable piece of historical fiction that has dated fairly well. Full review at Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2075227529.