Arthur Conan Doyle Quotes

British writer and physician (1859–1930)

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Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (May 22 1859 – July 7 1930) was a British writer and physician, most famous as the creator of the character Sherlock Holmes.

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Birth Name: Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle

Native Name: Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle

Alternative Names: Sir A. Conan Doyle • Arthur Conan, Sir Doyle • Sir Arthur Conan Doyle • Conan Doyle

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"...Recognising, as I do, that you are the second highest expert in Europe — "
"Indeed, sir! May I inquire who has the honour to be the first?" Asked Holmes, with some asperity.
"To the man of precised, scientific mind the work of Monsieur Bertillon must always appeal strongly."
"Then had you not better consult him?"
"I said, sir, to the precisely scientific mind. But as a practical man of affairs it is acknowledged that you stand alone. I trust, sir, that I have not inadvertently — "
"Just a little," said Holmes.

To underestimate oneself is as much an exaggeration of one's powers than the other.

You wish to put me in the dark. I tell you that I will never be put in the dark. You wish to beat me. I tell you that you will never beat me.

I have always held, too, that pistol practice should be distinctly an open-air pastime; and when Homes, in one of his queer humours, would sit in an armchair with his hair-trigger and a hundred Boxer cartridges and proceed to adorn the opposite wall with a patriotic V.R. done in bullet pocks, I felt strongly that neither the atmosphere nor the appearance of our room was improved by it.

It seems to leave the darkness rather blacker than before.

We must look for consistency. Where there is a want of it we must suspect deception.

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

When you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

It has always seemed to me that so long as you produce your dramatic effect, accuracy of detail matters little. I have never striven for it and I have made some bad mistakes in consequence. What matter if I hold my readers?

It is only goodness which gives extras, and so I say again that we have much to hope from the flowers.

His ignorance was as remarkable as his knowledge. Of contemporary literature, philosophy and politics he appeared to know next to nothing... My surprise reached a climax, however, when I found incidentally that he was ignorant of the Copernican Theory and of the composition of the Solar System.

Well, well, my dear fellow, be it so. We have shared this same room for some years, and it would be amusing if we ended by sharing the same cell. (...)

There is no satisfaction in vengeance unless the offender has time to realize who it is that strikes him, and why retribution has come upon him.

horses: dangerous on both ends and crafty in the middle

Every man finds his limitations, Mr. Holmes, but at least it cures us of the weakness of self-satisfaction.