Here's Philip Marlowe (Raymond Chandler's character):

I'm a licensed private investigator and have been a while. I'm a lone wolf, unmarried, getting middle aged, and not rich. I've been in jail more than once and don't do divorce business. I like liquor and women and chess and a few other things. The cops don't like me too well, but I know a couple I get along with. I'm a native son, born in Santa Rosa, both parents dead, no brothers and sisters, and when I get knocked off in a dark alley sometime, if it happens, as it could to anyone in my business, nobody will feel the bottom has dropped out his or her life.

Since I'm pretty sure everyone had just about the same voice in their head while reading that, a follow-up is: How did Humphrey Bogart's voice become emblazoned onto this character?