Famous Quotes

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

The context - Holmes is explaining to Watson how someone entered the apparently sealed room of Bartholomew Sholto. (The Sign of Four)

"The main thing with people of that sort, is never to let them think that their information can be of the slightest importance to you. It you do they will instantly shut up like an oyster."

Holmes had just asked Mrs Mordecai Smith all about her husband, Jonathan Small and the steam launch, 'Aurora'. (The Sign of Four)

"For me there still remains the cocaine-bottle"

At the end of the story, Watson talks about the fact that Inspector Athelney Jones gets the credit, and then asks Holmes "pray what remains for you?" (The Sign of Four)

"“You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen the steps which lead up from the hall to this room.”“Frequently.”“How often?”“Well, some hundreds of times.”“Then how many are there?”“How many? I don’t know.”“Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, because I have both seen and observed."

Holmes is explaining to Watson how he knew that he was hard at work at the surgery. Once explained Watson pointed out how easy it seemed. (A Scandal in Bohemia)

"This account of you we have from all quarters received"

From this, Holmes deduced that the note he received was from a German-speaking country. "A Frenchman or Russian could not have written that. It is the German who is so uncourteous to his verbs." (A Scandal in Bohemia)

"I think that I had better go, Holmes."

"Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my Boswell."

Holmes and Watson were waiting for there client to arrive. (A Scandal in Bohemia)

"The stage lost a fine actor, even as science lost an acute reasoner, when he become a specialist in crime."

Watson described Holmes in this way after he saw him disguised as a clergyman. (A Scandal in Bohemia)

"Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes"

Holmes know that he had heard the voice before but it took him a while to realise that is was Irene Adler dressed as a slim youth who spoke these words to him outside 221B Baker Street. (A Scandal in Bohemia)

At Holmes with Doyle

Celebrating Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle