You know how easily and suddenly these things happen, beginning in playful teasing and ending in something a little warmer than friendship. You squeeze the slender arm which is passed through yours, you venture to take the little gloved hand, you say good night at absurd length in the shadow of the door. It is innocent and very interesting, love trying his wings in a first little flutter.

No violence, gentlemen — no violence, I beg of you! Consider the furniture!

It is with nations as it is with individuals. A book of history is a book of sermons.

What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence. The question is, what can you make people believe that you have done?

The grand thing is to be able to reason backwards.

It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data.

You're not hurt, Watson? For God's sake, say that you are not hurt!" It was worth a wound -- it was worth many wounds -- to know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind that cold mask. The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for a moment, and the firm lips were shaking. For the one and only time I caught a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain. All my years of humble but single-minded service culminated in that moment of revelation.