Love has been taken away from the poets, and has been brought within the domain of true science. It may prove to be one of the great cosmic elementary forces. When the atom of hydrogen draws the atom of chlorine towards it to form the perfected molecule of hydrochloric acid, the force which it exerts may be intrinsically similar to that which draws me to you. Attraction and repulsion appear to be the primary forces. This is attraction.

It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

Well, well, my dear fellow, be it so. We have shared this same room for some years, and it would be amusing if we ended by sharing the same cell. (...)

All other men are specialists, but his specialism is omniscience.

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

A study of family portraits is enough to convert a man to the theory of reincarnation.

When the impossible has been eliminated, all that remains no matter how improbable is possible.