Addict Quote by George Bernard Shaw
“Sherlock Holmes was a drug addict without a single amiable trait.”
About This Quote
Source Play: Man and Superman by George Bernard Shaw, 1903
He portrays Sherlock Holmes as a drug‑addicted figure lacking redeeming qualities, critiquing the hero’s moral ambiguity.
In simple terms: Holmes is depicted as deeply flawed.
Key Takeaway
Question idealization of fictional heroes.
Themes
literature
critique
morality
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- book clubs
- literary criticism
- theatre discussions
Key Concepts
character analysis
addiction portrayal
heroic archetype
Questions to Reflect On
- How does flaw affect hero appeal?
- What does this say about society’s idols?
A Different Perspective
May ignore Holmes’s positive traits.
![“[Toby Jones] is completely different. It's a completely different character. He's the darkest villain we've had. There was always something charming and engaging about Moriarty. There was something fascinating and actually amoral, rather than immoral, about Charles Augustus Magnussen. This guy is…” quote by Mark Gatiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c12/mark-gatiss-10930_augustus_toby-jones-is-completely-different-it-s_336563.jpg)
![“Sherlock [Holmes] is on the side of the angels, but don't think he's one of them. He uses similar means, but it seems to be for a better purpose, one would hope.” quote by Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b6c/benedict-cumberbatch-1156_angel_sherlock-holmes-is-on-the-side-of-the-an_270932.jpg)
![“[Sherlock Holmes:] The temptation to form premature theories upon insufficient data is the bane of our profession.” quote by Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/199/arthur-conan-doyle-273_bane_sherlock-holmes-the-temptation-to-form-p_181407.jpg)
