How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"My clients are entitled to a decent amount of secrecy. Maybe I can be made to talk to a Grand Jury or even a Coroner's Jury, but I haven't been called before either yet, and it's a cinch I'm not going to advertise my clients' business until I have to." (15.16)
Spade upholds his professional code of ethics here by refusing to divulge information about his clients without their permission. Is it morally acceptable for Spade to protect his clients' secrecy even if it means he's harboring a criminal?
Quote #5
"Now if you want to go to the Board and tell them I'm obstructing justice and ask them to revoke my license, hop to it. You've tried it before and it didn't get you anything but a good laugh all around." (15.18)
Spade responds to the District Attorney's threats by telling him to get his license revoked. But until then, Spade plans on doing whatever is in his client's best interests, even if means making the police unhappy.
Quote #6
"I've got nothing to tell you or the police and I'm God-damned tired of being called things by every crackpot on the city payroll. If you want to see me, pinch me or subpoena me or something and I'll come down with my lawyer." (15.20)
Spade's code of honor keeps him from revealing his client's personal information, but he has to take a lot of flack for it. The police are mad at him, the District Attorney is pressuring him, even Spade himself is getting tired of being called names. But he sticks to his guns, and we give him kudos for that.