The great bell of Beaulieu was ringing. Far away through the forest might be heard its musical clangor and swell.

if i could be assured of your destruction, i would in the interest of the public, cheerfully accept my death.

Dogmas of every kind put assertion in the place of reason and give rise to more contention, bitterness, and want of charity than any other influence in human affairs.

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.

I never can resist a touch of the dramatic.

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.

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