Our ideas must be as broad as Nature if they are to interpret Nature.

The setting is a worthy one, if the devil did desire to have a hand in the affairs of men.

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

There are no crimes and no criminals in these days. What is the use of having brains in our profession? I know well that I have it in me to make my name famous. No man lives or has ever lived who has brought the same amount of study and of natural talent to the detection of crime which I have done. And what is the result? There is no crime to detect, or, at most, some bungling villainy with a motive so transparent that even a Scotland Yard official can see through it.

Brothers are a blessing for one thing. There is no possibility of any young lady getting unreasonably conceited if she be endowed with them.

Might I trouble you to open the window, for chloroform vapour does not help the palate.

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