By the black rood of Waltham! he roared, "if any knave among you lays a finger-end upon the edge of my gown, I will crush his skull like a filbert!"

By a man's finger-nails, by his coat-sleeve, by his boots, by his trouser knees, by the callosities of his forefinger and thumb, by his expression, by his shirt cuffs -- by each of these things a man's calling is plainly revealed. That all united should fail to enlighten the competent inquirer in any case is almost inconceivable.

Skill is fine, and genius is splendid, but the right contacts are more valuable than either.

I never make exceptions. An exception disproves the rule.

You have probably never heard of Professor Moriarty? said he.

I never remember feeling tired by work, though idleness exhausts me completely