The ideal reasoner, he remarked, would, when he had once been shown a single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which would follow from it.

The soul is swayed by the waters.

One forms provisional theories and waits for time or fuller knowledge to explode them. A bad habit, Mr. Ferguson, but human nature is weak. Sherlock Holmes speaking with Dr. Watson.

There are heroisms all round us waiting to be done.

Depend upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace.

If in 100 years I am only known as the man who invented Sherlock Holmes then I will have considered my life a failure.

My business is that of every other good citizen - to uphold the law.