Mostly I just kill time," he said, "and it dies hard.
Interpretation
The speaker humorously reflects on the struggle of passing time.
In this quote, Raymond Chandler expresses a playful yet profound observation about the nature of time and existence. The phrase 'killing time' suggests that people often engage in aimless activities to distract themselves from boredom or the passage of time, while 'it dies hard' indicates that time itself can be resistant to distraction, emphasizing the persistent and sometimes challenging nature of waiting or idleness.
In practice
Sharing this quote during a discussion about how we often find ourselves wasting time while waiting.
Undoubtedly the stories about them [hard-boiled detectives] had a fantastic element. Such things happened, but not so rapidly, nor to so close-knit a group of people, nor within so narrow a frame of logic. This was inevitable because the demand was for constant action; if you stopped to think you were lost. When in doubt, have a man come through a door with a gun in his hand.
There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands' necks. Anything can happen. You can even get a full glass of beer at a cocktail lounge.
Organized crime is the dirty side of the sharp dollar.
When in doubt, have a man come through the door with a gun in his hand.
The flood of print has turned reading into a process of gulping rather than savoring.
If my books had been any worse, I should not have been invited to Hollywood, and if they had been any better, I should not have come.
As I hurtled through space, one thought kept crossing my mind - every part of this rocket was supplied by the lowest bidder.
It will be written on my tombstone in very large letters, 'Here lies Hikaru Sulu,' and in very tiny letters, 'aka George Takei.' I don't protest the inevitable.
More and more, as I get older, people come up to me and say, 'Thank you for all the laughter.' And my standard answer is, 'It was my pleasure.' But that's the truth.
Comedy is a group activity, a verbal orgy.
Anyone who believes what a cat tells him deserves all he gets.
I'm getting rather hoarse, I fear,_x000D_ _x000D_ After so much reciting:_x000D_ _x000D_ So, if you don't object, my dear,_x000D_ _x000D_ We'll try a glass of bitter beer -_x000D_ _x000D_ I think it looks inviting.
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