I am afraid that I rather give myself away when I explain," said he. "Results without causes are much more impressive.

It isn't true that the laws of nature have been capriciously disturbed; that snakes have talked; that women have been turned into salt; that rods have brought water out of rocks.

The emotional qualities are antagonistic to clear reasoning.

From a drop of water a logician could infer the possibility of an Atlantic or a Niagara without having seen or heard of one or the other.

The love of books is among the choicest gifts of the gods.

Far away on the path we saw Sir Henry looking back, his face white in the moonlight, his hands raised in horror, glaring helplessly at the frightful thing which was hunting him down. But that cry of pain from the hound had blown all our fears to the winds. If he was vulnerable he was mortal, and if we could wound him we could kill him. Never have I seen a man run as Holmes ran that night.

The good Watson had at that time deserted me for a wife, the only selfish action I can recall in our association. I was alone.