Moriarty smiled his adder’s smile. And I relaxed. I knew…
““Moriarty smiled his adder’s smile. And I relaxed. I knew . My destiny and his wound together. It was a sensation I’d never got before upon meeting a man. When I’d had it from women, the upshot ranged from disappointment to attempted murder. Understand me, Professor James Moriarty was a hateful man, the most hateful, hateable , creature I have ever known, not excluding Sir Augustus and Kali’s Kitten and the Abominable Bloody Snow-Bastard and the Reverend Henry James Prince. He was something man-shaped that had crawled out from under a rock and moved into the manor house. But, at that moment, I was his , and I remain his forever. If I am remembered, it will be because I knew him . From that day on, he was my father, my commanding officer, my heathen idol, my fortune and terror and rapture.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The narrator describes an intense, twisted bond with Moriarty, seeing him as a dark mentor and father figure.
In simple terms: He admires a villain as a mentor.
Key Takeaway
Recognize dangerous admiration, seek healthier role models.
Themes
obsession
mentor
darkness
Mood
dark
intense
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- reading literature
- personal reflection
- therapy
Key Concepts
psychology of villainy
identity crisis
Questions to Reflect On
- What draws people to dark mentors?
- How can one break unhealthy idolization?
A Different Perspective
Admirations may glorify harmful figures.