“I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses.”
“The sharpest criticism often goes hand in hand with the deepest idealism and love of country.”
“I much fear that British juries have not yet attained that pitch of intelligence whenthey will give the preference to my theories over Lestrade's facts.”
“I would prefer an intelligent hell to a stupid paradise.”
“I have yet to find the man, however exalted his station, who did not do better work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval than under a spirit of criticism.”
“Strange that one man's actions could touch so many other people, like a single, thoughtless breath of wind coming in an open window and blowing the playing cards every which way.”