It is, of course, a trifle, but there is nothing so important as trifles.

For the one and only time I caught a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain.

We had got as far as this, when who should walk in but the gentleman himself, who had been drinking his beer in the taproom and had heard the whole conversation. Who was I? What did I want? What did I mean by asking questions? He had a fine flow of language, and his adjectives were very vigorous.

Every man finds his limitations, Mr. Holmes, but at least it cures us of the weakness of self-satisfaction.

That which is clearly known hath less terror than that which is but hinted at and guessed.

As a rule, said Holmes, the more bizarre a thing is the less mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is the most difficult to identify.

There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.