Top 25 Quotes by Arthur Conan Doyle of 426 - Page 15

The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it should be eaten without delay. Its finder has carried it off therefore to fulfil the ultimate

The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it should be eaten without delay. Its finder has carried it off therefore to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Morning, Food, Destiny

Arthur Conan Doyle (2015). “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes”, p.110, Zillmann Publishing

Then away out in the woods I heard that kind of a sound that a ghost makes when it wants to tell about something that's on its mind and can't make itself understood, and so can't rest easy in its grave, and has to go about that way every night grieving. As you value your life or your reason keep away from the moor.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Halloween, Night, Grieving

The good Watson had at that time deserted me for a wife, the only selfish action I can recall in our association. I was alone.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Selfish, Wife, Association

Arthur Conan Doyle (2013). “The Complete Sherlock Holmes”, p.1043, Race Point Pub

To his eyes all seemed beautiful, but to me a tinge of melancholy lay upon the countryside, which bore so clearly the mark of the waning year, Yellow leaves carpeted the lanes and fluttered down upon us as we passed, The rattle of our wheels died away as we drove through drifts of rotting vegetation--sad gifts, as it seemed to me, for Nature to throw before the carriage of the returning heir of the Baskervilles.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Beautiful, Eye, Years

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (2014). “Sherlock Holmes Complete Collection With illustrated Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - 4 Novels, 56 Short Stories and 120+ illustrations”, p.790, Ageless Reads

Far away on the path we saw Sir Henry looking back, his face white in the moonlight, his hands raised in horror, glaring helplessly at the frightful thing which was hunting him down. But that cry of pain from the hound had blown all our fears to the winds. If he was vulnerable he was mortal, and if we could wound him we could kill him. Never have I seen a man run as Holmes ran that night.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Running, Pain, Book

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (2014). “Sherlock Holmes Complete Collection With illustrated Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - 4 Novels, 56 Short Stories and 120+ illustrations”, p.865, Ageless Reads

In shape they were like horrible toads, and moved in a succession of springs, but in size they were of an incredible bulk, larger than the largest elephant. We had never before seen them save at night, and indeed they are nocturnal animals save when disturbed in their lairs, as these had been. We now stood amazed at the sight, for their blotched and warty skins were of a curious fish-like iridescence, and the sunlight struck them with an ever-varying rainbow bloom as they moved.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Spring, Animal, Night

Arthur Conan Doyle (2015). “Sir Arthur Conan Doyle The Dover Reader”, p.436, Courier Dover Publications

The highest morality may prove also to be the highest wisdom when the half-told story comes to be finished.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Stories, Half, May

Arthur Conan Doyle (2011). “The Great Boer War”, p.13, The Floating Press

Really, Watson, you excel yourself," said Holmes, pushing back his chair and lighting a cigarette. "I am bound to say that in all the accounts which you have been so good as to give of my own small achievements you have habitually underrated your own abilities. It may be that you are not yourself luminous, but you are a conductor of light. Some people without possessing genius have a remarkable power of stimulating it. I confess, my dear fellow, that I am very much in your debt.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Light, Giving, People

Arthur Conan Doyle, General Press (2016). “The Complete Sherlock Holmes: All 56 Stories & 4 Novels”, p.1557, GENERAL PRESS

Violence is sometimes a duty.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Peace, War, Violence

I felt Holmes's hand steal into mine and give me a reassuring shake. - Watson

Arthur Conan Doyle

Hands, Giving, Reassuring

It seems very strange ... that in the course of the world's history so obvious an improvement should never have been adopted. ... The next generation of Britishers would be the better for having had this extra hour of daylight in their childhood.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Science, History, Childhood

You will, I am sure, agree with me that... if page 534 only finds us in the second chapter, the length of the first one must have been really intolerable.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Book, Reading, Writing

Arthur Conan Doyle (1993). “The Case-book of Sherlock Holmes”, p.843, Wordsworth Editions

When a doctor does go wrong he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Knowledge, Doctors, Doe

The Speckled Band

Let us hear the suspicions. I will look after the proofs.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Looks, Proof, Suspicion

Arthur Conan Doyle (2007). “The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Short Stories: The Return of Sherlock Holmes, His Last Bow and The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (Non-slipcased Edition) (Vol. 2) (The Annotated Books)”, p.1074, W. W. Norton & Company

My uncle, Mr. Stephen Maple, had been at the same time the most successful and the least respectable of our family, so that we hardly knew whether to take credit for his wealth or to feel ashamed of his position.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Uncles, Humorous, Successful

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Illustrated)”, p.6226, Delphi Classics

I suppose I shall have to compound a felony as usual.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Usual, Holmes, Compounds

"The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes".

I should be very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush are, I think, all that we need.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Thinking, Gentleman, Twists

Arthur Conan Doyle, General Press (2016). “The Complete Sherlock Holmes: All 56 Stories & 4 Novels”, p.128, GENERAL PRESS

It is not really difficult to construct a series of inferences, each dependent upon its predecessor and each simple in itself. If, after doing so, one simply knocks out all the central inferences and presents one's audience with the starting-point and the conclusion, one may produce a startling, though perhaps a meretricious, effect.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Book, Simple, Simplicity

Sherlock Holmes in "The Adventure of the Dancing Men" (1903).

Detection is, or ought to be, an exact science and should be treated in the same cold and unemotional manner. You have attempted to tinge it with romanticism, which produces much the same effect as if you worked a love-story ... Some facts should be suppressed, or, at least, a just sense of proportion should be observed in treating them. The only point in the case which deserved mention was the curious analytical reasoning from effects to causes, by which I succeeded in unravelling it.'' —Sherlock Holmes on John Watson's "pamphlet", "A Study in Scarlet".

Arthur Conan Doyle

Stories, Causes, Facts

Data!data!data!" he cried impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Data, Clay, Bricks

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1892). “Adventures of Sherlock Holmes”, p.289

His ignorance was as remarkable as his knowledge. Of contemporary literature, philosophy and politics he appeared to know next to nothing... My surprise reached a climax, however, when I found incidentally that he was ignorant of the Copernican Theory and of the composition of the Solar System.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Philosophy, Book, Ignorance

Arthur Conan Doyle, General Press (2016). “The Complete Sherlock Holmes: All 56 Stories & 4 Novels”, p.1316, GENERAL PRESS

There's an east wind coming all the same, such a wind as never blew on England yet. It will be cold and bitter, Watson, and a good many of us may wither before its blast. But it's God's own wind none the less and a cleaner, better stronger land will lie in the sunshine when the storm has cleared.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Lying, Book, Sunshine

Arthur Conan Doyle (2007). “The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Short Stories: The Return of Sherlock Holmes, His Last Bow and The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (Non-slipcased Edition) (Vol. 2) (The Annotated Books)”, p.1443, W. W. Norton & Company

Perhaps, when a man has special knowledge and special powers like my own, it rather encourages him to seek a complex explanation when a simpler one is at hand.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Men, Hands, Special

Arthur Conan Doyle (2013). “The Complete Sherlock Holmes”, p.769, Race Point Pub

I consider that a man's brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose. [...] It is a mistake to think that that little room has elastic walls and can distend to any extent. [...] It is of the highest importance, therefore, not to have useless facts elbowing out the useful ones.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Wall, Mistake, Men

SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE, Choi Hyun (2016). “A Study in Scarlet”, p.13, ebookspub

"I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in drawing your inferences."

Arthur Conan Doyle

Friendship, Failure, Drawing

Arthur Conan Doyle, General Press (2016). “The Complete Sherlock Holmes: All 56 Stories & 4 Novels”, p.107, GENERAL PRESS