Arthur Conan Doyle

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

My dear Watson," said [Sherlock Holmes], "I cannot agree with those who rank modesty among the virtues. To the logician all things should be seen exactly as they are, and to underestimate one's self is as much a departure from truth as to exaggerate one's own powers.

The cheese-mites asked how the cheese got there, And warmly debated the matter; The Orthodox said that it came from the air, And the Heretics said from the platter. They argued it long and they argued it strong, And I hear they are arguing now; But of all the choice spirits who lived in the cheese, Not one of them thought of a cow.

It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data.

It is not my intention to be fulsome, but I confess that I covet your skull.

When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

There is a soul-jealousy that can be as frantic as any body-jealousy.

Problems may be solved in the study which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to use all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment.

It was easier to know it than to explain why I knew it.

Dr. Watson's summary list of Sherlock Holmes's strengths and weaknesses:"1. Knowledge of Literature: Nil.2. Knowledge of Philosophy: Nil.3. Knowledge of Astronomy: Nil.4. Knowledge of Politics: Feeble.5. Knowledge of Botany: Variable. Well up in belladonna, opium, and poisons generally. Knows nothing of practical gardening.6. Knowledge of Geology: Practical but limited. Tells at a glance different soils from each other. After walks has shown me splashes upon his trousers, and told me by their colour and consistence in what part of London he had received them.7. Knowledge of Chemistry: Profound.8. Knowledge of Anatomy: Accurate but unsystematic.9. Knowledge of Sensational Literature: Immense. He appears to know every detail of every horror perpetrated in the century.10. Plays the violin well.11. Is an expert singlestick player, boxer, and swordsman.12. Has a good practical knowledge of British law.

It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important.

Where there is no imagination there is no horror.

I consider that a man's brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose.

How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?

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

Any truth is better than indefinite doubt.

Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.

His ignorance was as remarkable as his knowledge.