Sherlock Holmes quotes from Sherlock

Sherlock Holmes

Fear is wisdom in the face of danger. It is nothing to be ashamed of.

Sherlock Holmes

Once the idea exists, it cannot be killed.

Sherlock Holmes

Intuitions are not to be ignored, John. They represent data processed too fast for the conscious mind to comprehend.

Sherlock

Stop talking, it makes me aware of your existence.

Sherlock

You can keep your scars.

Sherlock

Taking your own life. Interesting expression - taking it from who? Once it's over, it's not you who'll miss it. Your own death is something that happens to everybody else. Your life is not your own. Keep your hands off it.

Sherlock

I'm Sherlock Holmes. I wear the damn hat.

Sherlock Holmes

[Unzips a body-bag, smiles at what he sees] How fresh?

Molly Hooper

Just in. 67. Natural causes. He used to work here. I knew him, he was nice.

Sherlock Holmes

Fine. We'll start with the riding crop.

Molly Hooper

Bad day, was it?

Sherlock Holmes

I need to know what bruises form in the next twenty minutes. A man's alibi depends on it. Text me.

Molly Hooper

Listen, I was wondering. Maybe later when you're finished—

Sherlock Holmes

You're wearing lipstick. You weren't wearing lipstick before.

Molly Hooper

I, uh, I refreshed it a bit.

Sherlock Holmes

[beat] Sorry. You were saying?

Molly Hooper

I was wondering if you'd like to have coffee?

Sherlock Holmes

Black, two sugars please. I'll be upstairs.

Molly Hooper

...Okay.

John

[Looking around at the morgue's lab equipment] Bit different from my day.

You've no idea.

Sherlock

Mike, can I borrow your phone? There's no signal on mine.

And what's wrong with the landline?

Sherlock

I prefer to text.

Sorry, it's in my coat.

John

Er, here, use mine.

Sherlock

Oh, thank you.

This is an old friend of mine, John Watson.

Sherlock

Afghanistan or Iraq?

John

Sorry?

Sherlock

Which one was it? In Afghanistan or Iraq?

John

Afghanistan. Sorry, how did you...?

Sherlock

Ah, Molly, coffee, thank you. What happened to the lipstick?

Molly

It wasn't working for me.

Sherlock

Really? I thought it was a big improvement. Your mouth's too small now.

Molly

...Okay.

Sherlock

How do you feel about the violin?

John

I'm sorry, what?

Sherlock

I play the violin when I'm thinking and sometime I don't talk for days on end. Would that bother you? Potential flatmates should know the worst about each other.

John

You told him about me?

Not a word.

John

Then who says anything about flatmates?

Sherlock

I did. Told Mike this morning I must be a difficult man to find a flatmate for. Now here he is, just after lunch, with an old friend clearly just home from military service in Afghanistan. Wasn't a difficult leap.

John

How did you know about Afghanistan?

Sherlock

Got my eyes on a nice little place in central London, we ought to be able to afford it. We'll meet there tomorrow evening seven o'clock. Sorry, got to dash, I think I left my riding crop in the mortuary.

John

Is that it?

Sherlock

Is that what?

John

We've only just met, and we're going to go and look at a flat?

Sherlock

Problem?

John

We don't know a thing about each other. I don't know where we're meeting, I don't even know your name.

Sherlock

I know you're an Army doctor, and you've been invalided home from Afghanistan. You've got a brother worried about you, but you won't go to him for help, because you don't approve of him, possibly because he's an alcoholic, more likely because he recently walked out on his wife, and I know your therapist thinks your limp's psychosomatic, quite correctly, I'm afraid. That's enough to be going on with, don't you think? The name is Sherlock Holmes, and the address is 221B Baker Street. Afternoon.

Yeah, he's always like that.

John

[upon first seeing Baker Street] Well this is a prime spot. Must be expensive.

Sherlock

Mrs. Hudson, the landlady, is giving me a special deal. She owes me a favour. A few years back her husband got himself sentenced to death in Florida. I was able to help out.

John

You stopped her husband from being executed?

Sherlock

Oh, no. I ensured it.

Sherlock

Brilliant! YES! Four serial suicides and now a note! Oh, it's Christmas! Mrs. Hudson, I'll be late. Put the kettle on. [Rushes out]

Mrs. Hudson

I had a husband like that once, always rushing about. But I can see you're more the sitting-down type. I'll get some tea, and you just rest your leg.

John

DAMN MY LEG! Sorry! I'm so sorry. It's just sometimes this thing is just...

Mrs. Hudson

I understand, dearie. I've got a hip.

Sherlock

You're an army doctor.

John

Yes.

Sherlock

Any good?

John

Very good.

Sherlock

Seen a lot of injuries, then? Violent deaths?

John

Well, yes.

Sherlock

Bit of trouble too, I bet.

John

Of course, yes. Enough for a lifetime. Far too much.

Sherlock

[beat] Want to see some more?

John

Oh, God, yes.

Sherlock

Did I get anything wrong?

John

Harry and me don't get on, never have. Clara and Harry split up three months ago and they're getting a divorce. And Harry is a drinker.

Sherlock

Spot on, then. I didn't expect to be right about everything.

John

Harry's short for Harriet.

Sherlock

[stops walking] Harry's your sister.

John

What exactly am I supposed to be doing here?

Sherlock

[starts to stride along] Sister!

John

No, seriously, what am I doing here?

Sherlock

There's always something.

Sherlock

Ah, Anderson. Here we are again.

Anderson

It's a crime scene. I don't want it contaminated! Are we clear on that?

Sherlock

Quite clear. And is your wife away for long?

Anderson

Oh don't pretend you worked that out! Somebody told you that!

Sherlock

Your deodorant told me that.

Anderson

My deodorant.

Sherlock

It's for men.

Anderson

Well of course it's for men! I'm wearing it!

Sherlock

So's Sergeant Donovan. [sniffs] Ooh... I think it just vaporised. May I go in?

Anderson

Now look, whatever you're implying—

Sherlock

I'm not implying anything. I'm sure Sally came round for a nice little chat, and just happened to stay over. And I assume she scrubbed your floors, going by the state of her knees.

Sherlock

Shut up.

I didn't say anyth—

Sherlock

You were thinking. It's annoying.