Detection is, or ought to be, an exact science and should…
“Detection is, or ought to be, an exact science and should be treated in the same cold and unemotional manner. You have attempted to tinge it with romanticism, which produces much the same effect as if you worked a love-story ... Some facts should be suppressed, or, at least, a just sense of proportion should be observed in treating them. The only point in the case which deserved mention was the curious analytical reasoning from effects to causes, by which I succeeded in unravelling it.'' —Sherlock Holmes on John Watson's "pamphlet", "A Study in Scarlet".”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Scientific analysis should remain objective, avoiding romantic bias, while acknowledging that some facts may need careful presentation.
In simple terms: Science must stay objective, not romanticized.
Maintain objectivity in analysis.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- research
- investigation
- forensic work
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- When should emotion inform scientific interpretation?
- How do you decide which facts to emphasize?
Strict objectivity can ignore useful human context.