“There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.”

“You mentioned your name as if I should recognize it, but beyond the obvious facts that you are a bachelor, a solicitor, a freemason, and an asthmatic, I know nothing whatever about you.”

“Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of writing lately, I can deduce nothing else.”

“There is nothing more stimulating than a case where everything goes against you.”

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

“It is more than possible; it is probable.”

“Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself; but talent instantly recognizes genius.”