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Cases Quote by Arthur Conan Doyle

“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…” quote by Arthur Conan Doyle
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“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".”

Arthur Conan Doyle

About This Quote

Source Short story: A Study in Scarlet, 1887

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.

Key Takeaway

Maintain objectivity in analysis.

Themes

science objectivity methodology

Mood

analytical critical

Type

philosophical educational

When to use this quote

  • research
  • investigation
  • forensic work

Key Concepts

philosophy epistemology

Questions to Reflect On

  • When should emotion inform scientific interpretation?
  • How do you decide which facts to emphasize?
A Different Perspective

Strict objectivity can ignore useful human context.

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