Thomas Harris quotes

Thomas Harris is an American author, best known for his suspense and crime novels featuring the character Hannibal Lecter. His works, such as "The Silence of the Lambs," have had a lasting impact on popular culture and the thriller genre. He continues to be recognized for his gripping storytelling and complex characters. Here are 51 of his quotes:

Problem solving is hunting. It is savage pleasure and we are born to it.

Thomas Harris

What does he do, Clarice? What is the first and principal thing he does, what need does he serve by killing? He covets. How do we begin to covet? We begin by coveting what we see every day.

Thomas Harris

Did you ever think, Clarice, why the Philistines don't understand you? It's because you are the answer to Samson's riddle. You are the honey in the lion.

Thomas Harris

You would think such a day would tremble to begin...

Thomas Harris

There is a common emotion we all recognize and have not yet named-the happy anticipation of being able to feel contempt.

Thomas Harris

I love myself that much and I will never apologize to you.

Thomas Harris

You know how cats do. They hide to die. Dogs come home.

Thomas Harris

I am the dragon, and you call me insane.

Thomas Harris

It rubs the lotion on its skin. It does this whenever it is told.

Thomas Harris

... It is not healing to see your childhood home, but it helps you measure whether you are broken, and how and why, assuming you want to know.

Thomas Harris

But the face on the pillow, rosy in the firelight, is certainly that of Clarice Starling, and she sleeps deeply, sweetly, in the silence of the lambs.

Thomas Harris

We routinely leave our small children in day care among strangers. At the same time, in our guilt we evince paranoia about strangers and foster fear in children.

Thomas Harris

The worm that destroys you is the temptation to agree with your critics, to get their approval.

Thomas Harris

When the Fox hears the Rabbit scream he comes a-runnin', but not to help.

Thomas Harris

Nothing made me happen. I happened.

Thomas Harris

I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti.

Thomas Harris

The tragedy is not to die, but to be wasted.

Thomas Harris

We can only learn so much and live.

Thomas Harris

Fear comes with imagination, it's a penalty, it's the price of imagination.

Thomas Harris

I'm doing one of three things: I'm writing. I'm staring out the window. Or I'm writhing on the floor.

Thomas Harris

Over this odd world, this half the world that's dark now, I have to hunt a thing that lives on tears.

Thomas Harris

A census taker tried to quantify me once. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a big Amarone. Go back to school, little Starling.

Thomas Harris