Arthur Conan Doyle, the luminary behind the legendary character Sherlock Holmes, had a knack for weaving words into tales of intrigue that would capture the imagination of readers around the world. Not only did his fiction inspire generations of mystery enthusiasts, but his insightful musings on life, adventure, and human nature still resonate today. Buckle up as we delve into 50 intriguing Arthur Conan Doyle quotes that encompass the breadth and depth of this remarkable author's wit, wisdom, and literary genius.
Now, let's set the stage with an engaging yet true tale about the man himself. Did you know that Doyle, similar to his famous creation Holmes, was an ardent believer in justice and even took it upon himself to solve real-life cases? On two occasions, he used his deductive prowess to exonerate two individuals wrongly accused of crime. As we dive into these Arthur Conan Doyle quotes, you’ll discover more than just his literary brilliance—you'll witness the marks of a man who, like the characters he created, lived an extraordinary life. So let's delve into the world of intrigue and intellect, as we examine 50 thought-provoking Arthur Conan Doyle quotes.
Reflecting on Life
1. “It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.” – A Scandal in Bohemia
2. “Where there is no imagination, there is no horror.” – A Study in Scarlet
3. “Life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent.” – A Case of Identity
4. “The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.” – The Hound of the Baskervilles
5. “Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself; but talent instantly recognizes genius.” – The Valley of Fear
6. “Education never ends, Watson. It is a series of lessons, with the greatest for the last.” – His Last Bow
7. “There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.” – The Boscombe Valley Mystery
8. “Any truth is better than indefinite doubt.” – The Yellow Face
9. “We can't command our love, but we can our actions.” – The Adventure of the Three Garridebs
10. “It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important.” – A Case of Identity
Related Article: 50 Creative Jorge Luis Borges Quotes
On Adventure and Mystery
- “The love of books is among the choicest gifts of the gods.” – Through the Magic Door
- “I never guess. It is a shocking habit,—destructive to the logical faculty.” – The Sign of Four
- “What one man can invent, another can discover.” – The Adventure of the Dancing Men
- “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” – The Sign of Four
- “There is no scent so pleasant to my nostrils as that faint, subtle reek which comes from an ancient book.” – The Cardboard Box
- “I am not the law, but I represent justice so far as my feeble powers go.” – The Three Gables
- “To the man who loves art for its own sake, it is frequently in its least important and lowliest manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived.” – The Red-Headed League
- “Work is the best antidote to sorrow, my dear Watson.” – The Empty House
- “There are always some lunatics about. It would be a dull world without them.” – The Red-Headed League
- “It is stupidity rather than courage to refuse to recognize danger when it is close upon you.” – The Final Problem
Insights into Human Nature
- “Of all ghosts, the ghosts of our old loves are the worst.” – The Crooked Man
- “A man should keep his little brain attic stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he can get it if he wants it.” – A Study in Scarlet
- “The emotional qualities are antagonistic to clear reasoning.” – The Sign of Four
- “There is nothing more stimulating than a case where everything goes against you.” – The Hound of the Baskervilles
- “Our ideas must be as broad as Nature if they are to interpret Nature.” – A Study in Scarlet
- “The small details of life often hide a great significance.” – A Case of Identity
- “Violence does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls into the pit which he digs for another.” – The Adventure of the Speckled Band
- “There is a satisfaction in that,” said Holmes, “which the softer emotions can never give.” – The Valley of Fear
- “I can never bring you to realize the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace.” – A Case of Identity
- “The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.” – The Hound of the Baskervilles
Related Article: 50 Mysterious Agatha Christie Quotes
Lessons in Courage and Justice
- “The game is afoot.” – The Adventure of the Abbey Grange
- “I am a brain, Watson. The rest of me is a mere appendix.” – The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone
- “You see, but you do not observe.” – A Scandal in Bohemia
- “I never make exceptions. An exception disproves the rule.” – The Sign of Four
- “When a doctor does go wrong, he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge.” – The Adventure of the Speckled Band
- “You can't play with edged tools forever without cutting those dainty hands.” – The Illustrious Client
- “There is nothing more to be said or to be done tonight, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable ways of our fellowmen.” – The Five Orange Pips
- “The lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside.” – The Adventure of the Copper Beeches
- “You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of trifles.” – The Bascombe Valley Mystery
- “The more outre and grotesque an incident is the more carefully it deserves to be examined.” – The Hound of the Baskervilles
Reflections on Death and the Afterlife
- “Death is always with us.” – His Last Bow
- “The fear of death is the most unjustified of all fears, for there's no risk of accident for someone who's dead.” – The Adventure of the Lion's Mane
- “When once your point of view is changed, the very thing which was so damning becomes a clue to the truth.” – The Boscombe Valley Mystery
- “The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.” – The Hound of the Baskervilles
- “We can't command our love, but we can our actions.” – The Adventure of the Three Garridebs
- “What is out of the common is usually a guide rather than a hindrance.” – The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet
- “There are some trees, Watson, which grow to a certain height, and then suddenly develop some unsightly eccentricity. You will see it often in humans.” – The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge
- “When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” – The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier
- “I am the most incurably lazy devil that ever stood in shoe leather.” – A Study in Scarlet
- “My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work.” – The Sign of Four
Related Article: 50 Horrifying H.P. Lovecraft Quotes
