Arthur Conan
Arthur Conan
time waiting ferguson
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.
friendship drawing failing
"I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in drawing your inferences."
strong men weak-man
The weak man becomes strong when he has nothing, for then only can he feel the wild, mad thrill of despair.
learning men specialists
All other men are specialists, but his specialism is omniscience.
thinking instinct our-future
We surely know by some nameless instinct more about our futures than we think we know.
knowledge may facts
If the fresh facts come to our knowledge all fit themselves into the scheme, then our hypothesis may gradually become a solution. Sherlock Holmes speaking with Dr. Watson.
real discovery law
Once or twice in my career I feel that I have done more real harm by my discovery of the criminal than ever he had done by his crime. I have learned caution now, and I had rather play tricks with the law of England than with my own conscience.
deceptive distance far few horizon light might seemed within yards
There is nothing so deceptive as the distance of a light upon a pitch-dark night, and sometimes the glimmer seemed to be far away upon the horizon and sometimes it might have been within a few yards of us.
aggregate becomes good individual man remarks
Winwood Reade is good upon the subject, said Holmes. ""He remarks that, while the individual man is an insoluble puzzle, in the aggregate he becomes a mathematical certainty.
eliminated however truth
When you have eliminated the impossible, that which remains, however improbable, must be the truth.
despise screaming
Well, said she, after a pause, ""if you despise my love, I must see what can be done with fear. You smile, but the day will come when you will come screaming to me for pardon.
heard professor
You have probably never heard of Professor Moriarty? said he.
appear both bread depend expressed extremely practical theories turn
Yes, I have a turn both for observation and for deduction. The theories which I have expressed there, and which appear to you to be so chimerical are really extremely practical -- so practical that I depend upon them for my bread and cheese.
appeal consulting court highest last
The only unofficial consulting detective, he answered. ""I am the last and highest court of appeal in detection.