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.

In the year 1878 I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University of London, and proceeded to Netley to go through the course prescribed for surgeons in the army. Having completed my studies there, I was duly attached to the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers as Assistant Surgeon.

The emotional qualities are antagonistic to clear reasoning.

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

I fear that if the matter is beyond humanity, it is certainly beyond me.

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

There seems to me to be absolutely no limit to the inanity and credulity of the human race. Homo Sapiens! Homo idioticus!