What is out of the common is usually a guide rather than a hindrance.

What, indeed? It is art for art’s sake, Watson.

My mind,” he said, “rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram or the most intricate analysis, and I am in my own proper atmosphere. I can dispense...

It is my belief, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside.

Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself; but talent instantly recognizes genius.

I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum routine of daily life.

You will not apply my precept,” he said, shaking his head. “How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth? We know...

One night–it was on the twentieth of March, 1888–I was returning from a journey to a patient(for I had now returned to civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I passed...

Is there any point to which you would wish to draw my attention?’ ‘To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time.’ ‘The dog did nothing in the night-time.”That was the curious incident,’ remarked...

There is no scent so pleasant to my nostrils as that faint, subtle reek which comes from an ancient book.

The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.

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

The affair seems absurdly trifling, and yet I dare call nothing trivial when I reflect that some of my most classic cases have had the least promising commencement. You will remember, Watson, how the dreadful...

No man burdens his mind with small matters unless he has some very good reason for doing so.

Holmes laughed. “Watson insists that I am the dramatist in real life,” said he. “Some touch of the artist wells up within me, and calls insistently for a well-staged performance. Surely our profession, Mr. Mac,...

I have wrought my simple planIf I give one hour of joyTo the boy who’s half a man,Or the man who’s half a boy.

I confess that I have been as blind as a mole, but is is better to learn wisdom late than never to learn it at all.

A dog reflects the family life. Whoever saw a frisky dog in a gloomy family, or a sad dog in a happy one? Snarling people have snarling dogs, dangerous people have dangerous ones.

It is a mistake to confound strangeness with mystery. The most commonplace crime is often the most mysterious because it presents no new or special features from which deductions may be drawn. This murder would...

Violence does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls into the pit which he digs for another.

Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should dwell.

If my future were black, it was better surely to face it like a man than to attempt to brighten it by mere will-o’-the-wisps of the imagination.

Wonderful!” I ejaculated.

Why should you go further in it? What have you to gain from it?”What, indeed? It is art for art’s sake, Watson. I suppose when you doctored, you found yourself studying cases without thought of...

The country inspector’s face had shown his intense amazement at the rapid and masterful progress of Holmes’ investigation. At first he had shown some disposition to assert his own position, but now he was overcome...

Well,’ said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return once more to London, ‘it has been a pretty business for me! I have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea...

To a great mind, nothing is little.

You know my methods. Apply them.

Good old Watson! You are the one fixed point in a changing age. There’s an east wind coming all the same, such a wind as never blew on England yet. It will be cold and...

A strong wind sang sadly as it bent the trees in front of the Hall. A half moon shone through the dark, flying clouds on to the wild and empty moor.

There are always some lunatics about. It would be a dull world without them.

I am an omnivorous reader with a strangely retentive memory for trifles.

As a rule, the more bizarre a thing is the less mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is the most difficult...

Omne ignotum pro magnifico.

The absence of the latter means nothing, though its presence may mean everything

My friend’s wiry arms were around me and he was leading me to the chair.”You’re not hurt, Watson? For God’s sake say that you’re not hurt!”It was worth a wound -it was worth many wounds-...

How long is this to last?” asked the inspector finally. “And what is it we are watching for?””I have no more notion than you how long it is to last,” Holmes answered with some asperity....

Why should you, for a mere passing pleasure, risk the loss of those great powers with which you have been endowed?