Dashiell Hammett

“ NOW that the meek and the humble have inherited the earth and it were arrogance to look down upon any man—the apologetic being the mode in lives—I should like to go monthly to some hidden gallery and, behind drawn curtains, burn perfumed candles before the images of:
Joachim Murat, King of Naples, who mourned, “Ah, the poor people! They are ignorant of the misfortune they are about to suffer. ”

“ And Thomas Hart Benton, who, when his publishers consulted him concerning the number of copies of his book, Thirty Years’ View, to be printed, replied, “Sir, you can ascertain from the last census how many persons there are in the United States who can read, sir”; and who refused to speak against Calhoun when he was ill, saying, “When God Almighty lays His hands on a man, Benton takes his off!” ...
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1928. ”

“ The longest-living author of this work died in 1961, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 61 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works. ”