“Is it really you? Can it indeed be that you are alive?”

(from “The Adventure of the Empty House,” page 8)

It was indeed like old times when, at that hour, I found myself seated beside him in a hansom, my revolver in my pocket, and the thrill of adventure in my heart. Holmes was cold and stern and silent. As the gleam of the street-lamps flashed upon his austere features, I saw that his brows were drawn down in thought and his thin lips compressed. I knew not what wild beast we were about to hunt down in the dark jungle of criminal London, but I was well assured, from the bearing of this master huntsman, that the adventure was a most grave one.

(from “The Adventure of the Empty House,” pages 11-12)

“What one man can invent another can discover.”

(from “The Adventure of the Dancing Men,” page 56)

“When a man embarks upon a crime, he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring from it.”

(from “The Adventure of the Priory School,” page 92)

“I’ve seen you handle a good many cases, Mr. Holmes, but I don’t know that I ever knew a more workmanlike one than that. We’re not jealous of you at Scotland Yard. No, sir, we are very proud of you, and if you come down to-morrow, there’s not a man, from the oldest inspector to the youngest constable, who wouldn’t be glad to shake you by the hand.”

(from “The Adventure of the Six Napoleons,” page 141)

“Come, Watson, come!” he cried. “The game is afoot. Not a word! Into your clothes and come!”

(from “The Adventure of the Abbey Grange,” page 191)

“The motives of women are so inscrutable.”

(from “The Adventure of the Second Stain,” page 216)

Sherlock Holmes had pushed away his untasted breakfast and lit the unsavoury pipe which was the companion of his deepest meditations.

(from The Valley of Fear, page 236)

Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself; but talent instantly recognizes genius. (from The Valley of Fear, page 238)

“The blunt accusation, the brutal tap upon the shoulder—what can one make of such a dénouement? But the quick inference, the subtle trap, the clever forecast of coming events, the triumphant vindication of bold theories—are these not the pride and the justification of our life’s work?”

(from The Valley of Fear, page 283)

“My mind is like a racing engine, tearing itself to pieces because it is not connected up with the work for which it was built. Life is commonplace; the papers are sterile; audacity and romance seem to have passed forever from the criminal world.”

(from “The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge,” pages 359-360)

“It may be very much deeper than appears on the surface. The first thing that strikes one is the obvious possibility that the person now in the rooms may be entirely different from the one who engaged them.”

(from “The Adventure of the Red Circle,” page 400)

“It shows, my dear Watson, that we are dealing with an exceptionally astute and dangerous man.”

(from “The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax,” page 452)

“When you follow two separate chains of thought, Watson, you will find some point of intersection which should approximate to the truth.”

(from “The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax,” page 455)

“To revenge crime is important, but to prevent it is more so.”

(from “The Adventure of the Illustrious Client,” page 498)

“The faculty of deduction is certainly contagious, Watson.”

(from “The Problem of Thor Bridge,” page 582)

“By Jove, Mr. Holmes, I think you have hit it.”

(from “The Adventure of the Lion’s Mane,” page 625)

“My dear fellow, I fear your deductions have not been so happy as I should have wished.” (from “How Watson Learned the Trick,” page 675)