To let the brain work without sufficient material is like racing an engine. It racks itself to pieces. The sea air, sunshine, and patience, Watson—all else will come.

Do you remember what Darwin says about music? He claims that the power of producing and appreciating it existed among the human race long before the power of speech was arrived at. Perhaps that is why we are so subtly influenced by it. There are vague memories in our souls of those misty centuries when the world was in its childhood.'
That's a rather broad idea,' I remarked.
One's ideas must be as broad as Nature if they are to interpret Nature,' he answered.

I am a brain, Watson. The rest of me is a mere appendix.

No man burdens his mind with small matters unless he has some very good reason for doing so.

To a great mind, nothing is little,' remarked Holmes, sententiously.

Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should dwell.