--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All this was very loose guessing, and I…" description: "\"“All this was very loose guessing, and I don't pretend it was ingenious or scientific. I wasn't any kind of Sherlock Holmes. But I have always fancied ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/john-buchan-7539_richard-hannay_all-this-was-very-loose-guessing-and-i-d_83667.jpg" --- # All this was very loose guessing, and I don't pretend it… ![“All this was very loose guessing, and I don't pretend it was ingenious or scientific. I wasn't any kind of Sherlock Holmes. But I have always fancied I had a kind of instinct about questions like this. I don't know if I can explain myself, but I used to use my brains as far as they went, and after…” quote by John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/john-buchan-7539_richard-hannay_all-this-was-very-loose-guessing-and-i-d_83667.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/john-buchan-7539_richard-hannay_all-this-was-very-loose-guessing-and-i-d_83667.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/john-buchan-7539_richard-hannay_all-this-was-very-loose-guessing-and-i-d_83667.jpg) > ““All this was very loose guessing, and I don't pretend it was ingenious or scientific. I wasn't any kind of Sherlock Holmes. But I have always fancied I had a kind of instinct about questions like this. I don't know if I can explain myself, but I used to use my brains as far as they went, and after they came to a blank wall I guessed, and I usually found my guesses pretty right.”” [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker admits to relying on intuition and trial‑and‑error rather than systematic analysis, yet finds success through instinctive guessing. **In simple terms:** Intuition over method Key Takeaway Instinct can guide decisions when logic stalls Themes intuition problem‑solving uncertainty confidence learning from failure Mood reflective curious confident Type personal anecdote philosophical observation When to use this quote - making rapid decisions under pressure - navigating ambiguous problems - creative brainstorming sessions - first‑time troubleshooting - exploratory research Key Concepts heuristics cognitive bias pattern recognition self‑efficacy Practical Applications - Developing intuition‑based decision frameworks - Training teams to trust gut feelings when data is scarce Questions to Reflect On - When does intuition become a liability? - How can you balance instinct with evidence? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Sherlock holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sherlock-holmes/) ## Related quotes > [“By God!' he whispered, drawing his breath in sharply, 'it is all pure Rider Haggard and Conan Doyle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/by-god-he-whispered-drawing-his-breath-in-sharply-it-is-all-pure/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [There is an undeniable exhilaration in moment of even the smallest discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-moore/there-is-an-undeniable-exhilaration-in-moment-of-even-the-smallest/) [Graham Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-moore/) > [ “\[On writing more Sherlock Holmes stories.\] ‘I don’t care whether you do or not,’ said Bram. ‘But you will, eventually. He’s yours, till death… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-moore/on-writing-more-sherlock-holmes-stories-i-don-t-care-whether-you-do/) [Graham Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-moore/) > [“Holmes laughed. "Watson insists that I am the dramatist in real life," said he. "Some touch of the artist wells up within me, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/holmes-laughed-watson-insists-that-i-am-the-dramatist-in-real-life/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“Watson, temanku, katakan padaku apa yang merasuki pikiranku ketika aku memutuskan menagangani kasus di mana pelaku yang dicurigai telah meninggal dunia?" - Sherlock Holmes”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-mack-michael-citrin/watson-temanku-katakan-padaku-apa-yang-merasuki-pikiranku-ketika-aku/) Tracy Mack & Michael Citrin > [you can give it a long name if you like, but I'm an old-fashioned woman and I call it mother-wit, and it's so rare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/you-can-give-it-a-long-name-if-you-like-but-i-m-an-old-fashioned/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [Why would you envy a man who doesn't know the names of all the planets, is a 'high functioning' sociopath, and has no friends?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-hill/why-would-you-envy-a-man-who-doesn-t-know-the-names-of-all-the/) [Kyle Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-hill/) > [I loved Sherlock Holmes as a kid, but I remember being disappointed when he'd come up with these simple explanations for these complex mysteries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-weir/i-loved-sherlock-holmes-as-a-kid-but-i-remember-being-disappointed/) [Peter Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-weir/) > [“To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name. 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In his eyes she eclipses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/to-sherlock-holmes-she-is-always-the-woman-i-have-seldom-heard-him/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“It's barely changed since the faceless colour committee originally selected it in 1908 when the first map of the Underground was designed and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-morley/it-s-barely-changed-since-the-faceless-colour-committee-originally/) [Paul Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-morley/) > [“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/) > [“Wonderful!" I ejaculated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/wonderful-i-ejaculated/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [Sherlock Holmes: She is a lovely woman, Watson, with a face that a man might die for. Dr. John Watson: A face a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-arthur-conan-doyle/sherlock-holmes-she-is-a-lovely-woman-watson-with-a-face-that-a-man/) [Sir Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-arthur-conan-doyle/) ## More by John Buchan > [You think that a wall as solid as the earth separates civilization from barbarism. I tell you the division is a thread, a sheet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/you-think-that-a-wall-as-solid-as-the-earth-separates-civilization/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [“The men who knew that he knew what he knew had found him”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/the-men-who-knew-that-he-knew-what-he-knew-had-found-him/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [“I began to get really keen, for every man at the bottom of his heart believes that he is a born detective.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/i-began-to-get-really-keen-for-every-man-at-the-bottom-of-his-heart/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [“How will you deal with him?" Belses asked. Jock lifted a brawny fist and regarded it lovingly. "Knock him out-- truss him up-- whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/how-will-you-deal-with-him-belses-asked-jock-lifted-a-brawny-fist-and/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [The true definition of a snob is one who craves for what separates men rather than for what unites them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/the-true-definition-of-a-snob-is-one-who-craves-for-what-separates/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [You see only the productions of second-rate folk who are in a hurry to get wealth and fame. The true knowledge, the deadly knowledge,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/you-see-only-the-productions-of-second-rate-folk-who-are-in-a-hurry/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [I always try to suit my clothes to my company. It is the only way to be inconspicuous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/i-always-try-to-suit-my-clothes-to-my-company-it-is-the-only-way-to/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [“But let none, he added, pray to have the full music; for it will make him who hears it a footsore traveller in”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/but-let-none-he-added-pray-to-have-the-full-music-for-it-will-make/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [“though I was afraid of many things, the thing I feared most mortally was being afraid. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/though-i-was-afraid-of-many-things-the-thing-i-feared-most-mortally/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [ \[W\]ithout humour you cannot run a sweetie-shop, let alone a nation. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/w-ithout-humour-you-cannot-run-a-sweetie-shop-let-alone-a-nation/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [I was a peaceful sedentary man, a lover of a quiet life, with no appetite for perils and commotions. But I was beginning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/i-was-a-peaceful-sedentary-man-a-lover-of-a-quiet-life-with-no/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [In our modern world we have seen inaugurated the reign of a dull bourgeois rationalism, which finds some inadequate reason for all things in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/in-our-modern-world-we-have-seen-inaugurated-the-reign-of-a-dull/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [The robe of flesh wears thin, and with the years God shines through all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/the-robe-of-flesh-wears-thin-and-with-the-years-god-shines-through/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [“Most people are a little scared at new things ... You want a bigger heart to face danger which you go out to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/most-people-are-a-little-scared-at-new-things-you-want-a-bigger-heart/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [Without humility there can be no humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/without-humility-there-can-be-no-humanity/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) [Explore all 90 John Buchan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) ## More Guessing quotes > [Life has taught me one big lesson, always keep the girlies guessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-presley/life-has-taught-me-one-big-lesson-always-keep-the-girlies-guessing/) [Elvis Presley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-presley/) > [Listen, young people, I understand narcissism - clearly. But at least I have the decency to hate myself. And that's what's missing from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/listen-young-people-i-understand-narcissism-clearly-but-at-least-i/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [“This whole thing," I said "is going to come down to guessing who isn't what they look like." "Who is?" Karrin asked, her hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/this-whole-thing-i-said-is-going-to-come-down-to-guessing-who-isn-t/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [You make a movie and it's like convincing people to go on an expedition with you. You think you know where it's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ayer/you-make-a-movie-and-it-s-like-convincing-people-to-go-on-an/) [David Ayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ayer/) > [Guessing isn't knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/guessing-isn-t-knowing/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I don't think I have any set image, and I don't want one. If I think I'm getting a particular image, I try and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranveer-singh/i-don-t-think-i-have-any-set-image-and-i-don-t-want-one-if-i-think-i/) [Ranveer Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranveer-singh/) > [Forever this time," he said as Sawyer strode toward them. Tara sighed blissfully. "You know what this means, right?" "I'm done guessing," he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/forever-this-time-he-said-as-sawyer-strode-toward-them-tara-sighed/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [I love enemies, though not in the Christian way. They amuse me, excite my blood. Being always on one’s guard, catching every glance, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-lermontov/i-love-enemies-though-not-in-the-christian-way-they-amuse-me-excite/) [Mikhail Lermontov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-lermontov/) > [Have any of you taken a look out at Greece in the last, say, hour or so? (Hermes) What? Are they reacting to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/have-any-of-you-taken-a-look-out-at-greece-in-the-last-say-hour-or-so/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [A miracle worker who can do more with less, pacify rival groups, endure chronic second guessing, tolerate low levels of support, process large volumes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fullan/a-miracle-worker-who-can-do-more-with-less-pacify-rival-groups-endure/) [Michael Fullan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fullan/) > [Never keep a woman guessing, shes sure to find the answer some were else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-keep-a-woman-guessing-shes-sure-to-find-the-answer-some-were/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Empowering Women 101: If a normal man wants you he will let you know. You won't have to guess. He will move mountains to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/empowering-women-101-if-a-normal-man-wants-you-he-will-let-you-know/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“I have long left the notion of guessing the mind of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-schamel/i-have-long-left-the-notion-of-guessing-the-mind-of-god/) Amber Schamel > [My greatest desire as an actor is to keep people guessing and not do anything close to what I did last time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-schreiber/my-greatest-desire-as-an-actor-is-to-keep-people-guessing-and-not-do/) [Pablo Schreiber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-schreiber/) > [ You can choose who you want to be the hero \[in Hard Candy\], but youll be second-guessing yourself -- theres just no right answer.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/you-can-choose-who-you-want-to-be-the-hero-in-hard-candy-but-youll-be/) [Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/) Browse all 281 Guessing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“All this was very loose guessing, and I don't pretend it was ingenious or scientific. 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