--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before turning to those moral and mental…" description: "\"Before turning to those moral and mental aspects of the matter which present the greatest difficulties, let the inquirer begin by mastering more elemen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/arthur-conan-doyle-273_adversity_before-turning-to-those-moral-and-mental_1949421.jpg" --- # Before turning to those moral and mental aspects of the… ![“Before turning to those moral and mental aspects of the matter which present the greatest difficulties, let the inquirer begin by mastering more elementary problems.” quote by Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/arthur-conan-doyle-273_adversity_before-turning-to-those-moral-and-mental_1949421.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/arthur-conan-doyle-273_adversity_before-turning-to-those-moral-and-mental_1949421.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/arthur-conan-doyle-273_adversity_before-turning-to-those-moral-and-mental_1949421.jpg) > “Before turning to those moral and mental aspects of the matter which present the greatest difficulties, let the inquirer begin by mastering more elementary problems.” [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Begin with simple problems before tackling complex moral and mental challenges. **In simple terms:** Start simple, then handle harder issues. Key Takeaway Master basics first. Themes learning problem solving ethics Mood thoughtful instructive Type educational advisory When to use this quote - education - self‑improvement - conflict resolution Key Concepts incremental mastery cognitive development Questions to Reflect On - What simple skill can you strengthen now? - How do basics support ethical decisions? A Different Perspective Complex issues may still overwhelm despite basics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Inquirers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inquirers/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) ## Related quotes > [It is a capital mistake to theorize before you have all the evidence. It biases the judgment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-is-a-capital-mistake-to-theorize-before-you-have-all-the-evidence/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [No man lives or has ever lived who has brought the same amount of study and of natural talent to the detection of crime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/no-man-lives-or-has-ever-lived-who-has-brought-the-same-amount-of/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [I consider that a man's brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/i-consider-that-a-man-s-brain-originally-is-like-a-little-empty-attic-4/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [The grand thing is to be able to reason backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/the-grand-thing-is-to-be-able-to-reason-backwards/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“Amid the greatest difficulties of my Administration, when I could not see any other resort, I would place my whole reliance in God, knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/amid-the-greatest-difficulties-of-my-administration-when-i-could-not/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The greatest difficulties lie where we are not looking for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-greatest-difficulties-lie-where-we-are-not-looking-for-them/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Nevertheless, amid the greatest difficulties of my Administration, when I could not see any other resort, I would place my whole reliance on God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/nevertheless-amid-the-greatest-difficulties-of-my-administration-when/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [It is the things we think we know - because they are so elementary or because they surround us - that often present the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/it-is-the-things-we-think-we-know-because-they-are-so-elementary-or/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [“God can bring his people through the greatest difficulties, and force a way where he does not find it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/god-can-bring-his-people-through-the-greatest-difficulties-and-force/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [...we are all inclined to ... direct our inquiry not by the matter itself, but by the views of our opponents; and, even when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/we-are-all-inclined-to-direct-our-inquiry-not-by-the-matter-itself/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“Populus me sibilat, at mihi plaudo Ipse domi simul ac nummos contemplar in arca.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romawi/populus-me-sibilat-at-mihi-plaudo-ipse-domi-simul-ac-nummos-2/) Romawi > [“Inquirer' co-owner among 7 killed in plane crash”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/inquirer-co-owner-among-7-killed-in-plane-crash/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But she named the infant "Pearl," as being of great price-purchased with all she had-her mother's only treasure!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/but-she-named-the-infant-pearl-as-being-of-great-price-purchased-with/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [Don't be an examiner, be the interested inquirer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/don-t-be-an-examiner-be-the-interested-inquirer/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I remember being a kid and seeing the 'National Inquirer' at the grocery store checkout line. When somebody actually picked up a copy, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/i-remember-being-a-kid-and-seeing-the-national-inquirer-at-the/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) ## More by Arthur Conan Doyle > [“shattered the bone and grazed the subclavian artery. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/shattered-the-bone-and-grazed-the-subclavian-artery-i/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram, or the most intricate analysis, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/my-mind-rebels-at-stagnation-give-me-problems-give-me-work-give-me/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [...it was a huge creature, luminous, ghastly, and spectral. I have cross-examined these men, one of them a hard-headed countryman, one a farrier, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-was-a-huge-creature-luminous-ghastly-and-spectral-i-have-cross/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“A study in scarlet, eh? Why shouldn't we use a little art jargon. There's the scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless skein…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/a-study-in-scarlet-eh-why-shouldn-t-we-use-a-little-art-jargon-there/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/mediocrity-knows-nothing-higher-than-itself-but-talent-instantly/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“Holy men? Holy cabbages! Holy bean-pods! What do they do but live and suck in sustenance and grow fat? If that be holiness, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/holy-men-holy-cabbages-holy-bean-pods-what-do-they-do-but-live-and/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“Wonderful!" I ejaculated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/wonderful-i-ejaculated/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [Amberley excelled at chess - a mark, Watson, of a scheming mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/amberley-excelled-at-chess-a-mark-watson-of-a-scheming-mind/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [Ex-Professor Moriarty of mathematical celebrity... is the Napoleon of crime, Watson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/ex-professor-moriarty-of-mathematical-celebrity-is-the-napoleon-of/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“When a doctor does go wrong, he is the first of criminals. He has the nerve and he has the knowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/when-a-doctor-does-go-wrong-he-is-the-first-of-criminals-he-has-the/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“How small we feel with our petty ambitions and strivings in the presence of the great elemental forces of Nature!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/how-small-we-feel-with-our-petty-ambitions-and-strivings-in-the/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [You wish to put me in the dark. I tell you that I will never be put in the dark. You wish to beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/you-wish-to-put-me-in-the-dark-i-tell-you-that-i-will-never-be-put-in/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“My mind," he said, "rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram or the most intricate analysis,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/my-mind-he-said-rebels-at-stagnation-give-me-problems-give-me-work/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“It is hard luck on a young fellow to have expensive tastes, great expectations, aristocratic connections but no actual money in his pocket, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-is-hard-luck-on-a-young-fellow-to-have-expensive-tastes-great/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“In the year 1878 I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University of London, and proceeded to Netley to go through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/in-the-year-1878-i-took-my-degree-of-doctor-of-medicine-of-the/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) [Explore all 740 Arthur Conan Doyle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) James Buckham Kennedy > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) S.E. SEVER > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Before turning to those moral and mental aspects of the matter which present the greatest difficulties, let the inquirer begin by mastering more elementary problems.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arthur Conan Doyle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/before-turning-to-those-moral-and-mental-aspects-of-the-matter-which/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adversity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/before-turning-to-those-moral-and-mental-aspects-of-the-matter-which/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/arthur-conan-doyle-273_adversity_before-turning-to-those-moral-and-mental_1949421.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/arthur-conan-doyle-273_adversity_before-turning-to-those-moral-and-mental_1949421.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/arthur-conan-doyle-273_adversity_before-turning-to-those-moral-and-mental_1949421.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Before turning to those moral and mental aspects of the matter which present the greatest difficulties, let…” — Arthur Conan Doyle", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Arthur Conan Doyle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Before turning to those moral and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/before-turning-to-those-moral-and-mental-aspects-of-the-matter-which/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/before-turning-to-those-moral-and-mental-aspects-of-the-matter-which/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```