--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Arthur Conan Doyle had to be Sherlock…" description: "\"Arthur Conan Doyle had to be Sherlock Holmes in order to envision how Sherlock Holmes would unravel a mystery. He had to be in Sherlock's situations. A..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/patti-smith-394_arthur_arthur-conan-doyle-had-to-be-sherlock-ho_1456642.jpg" --- # Arthur Conan Doyle had to be Sherlock Holmes in order to… ![“Arthur Conan Doyle had to be Sherlock Holmes in order to envision how Sherlock Holmes would unravel a mystery. He had to be in Sherlock's situations. As a writer, you have to be of two minds.” quote by Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/patti-smith-394_arthur_arthur-conan-doyle-had-to-be-sherlock-ho_1456642.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/patti-smith-394_arthur_arthur-conan-doyle-had-to-be-sherlock-ho_1456642.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/patti-smith-394_arthur_arthur-conan-doyle-had-to-be-sherlock-ho_1456642.jpg) > “Arthur Conan Doyle had to be Sherlock Holmes in order to envision how Sherlock Holmes would unravel a mystery. He had to be in Sherlock's situations. As a writer, you have to be of two minds.” [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A writer must immerse themselves in their character’s perspective to authentically portray their actions and thoughts. **In simple terms:** Writers need to think like their characters. Key Takeaway Empathize deeply with your characters. Themes creativity empathy writing character development Mood reflective introspective Type literary instructional When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - role‑playing games Key Concepts perspective taking method acting Questions to Reflect On - How does stepping into a character’s mind affect your own worldview? - When might distance be more useful? A Different Perspective Over‑identification can blur authorial voice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arthur/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arthur-conan-doyle/) [Conan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conan/) [Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conan-doyle-411836/) [Envision Sherlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envision-sherlock-5252108/) [Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holmes/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Mystery Sherlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery-sherlock-5252109/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Sherlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sherlock/) [Sherlock holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sherlock-holmes/) [Sherlock Situations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sherlock-situations-5252107/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Two minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-minds/) ## Related quotes > [I think I read too much Arthur Conan Doyle when I was young, and got this idea that a gentleman should know a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/i-think-i-read-too-much-arthur-conan-doyle-when-i-was-young-and-got/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [I suppose I'm the only person who remembers one of the most exciting of his ballets-it's the fruit of an unlikely collaboration between Nijinsky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bennett/i-suppose-i-m-the-only-person-who-remembers-one-of-the-most-exciting/) [Alan Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bennett/) > [Prescription: 'Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes. Take ten pages, twice a day, til end of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-setterfield/prescription-sir-arthur-conan-doyle-the-case-book-of-sherlock-holmes/) [Diane Setterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-setterfield/) > [I remember when I was a kid, I loved Sherlock Holmes. I thought Arthur Conan Doyle was one of the greatest writers, because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-remember-when-i-was-a-kid-i-loved-sherlock-holmes-i-thought-arthur/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [The (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) stories were great, for one. The thing that makes him a remarkable character is how he can withstand all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-linney/the-sir-arthur-conan-doyle-stories-were-great-for-one-the-thing-that/) [Laura Linney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-linney/) > [Arthur Conan Doyle was entranced by the notion of a brilliant detective who can deduce everything a stranger has been up to from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-yglesias/arthur-conan-doyle-was-entranced-by-the-notion-of-a-brilliant/) [Rafael Yglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-yglesias/) > [“I had no idea that such individuals existed outside of stories. A STUDY IN SCARLET, SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-cavallaro/i-had-no-idea-that-such-individuals-existed-outside-of-stories-a/) [Brittany Cavallaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany-cavallaro/) > [I used to joke that I came to England - not to the U.S. where most Koreans go - because I like Arthur Conan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ha-joon-chang/i-used-to-joke-that-i-came-to-england-not-to-the-u-s-where-most/) [Ha-Joon Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ha-joon-chang/) > [Now I'm just loving the world of Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle so much. I really wouldn't want to go back into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/now-i-m-just-loving-the-world-of-oscar-wilde-and-arthur-conan-doyle/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [I really respect the world that Arthur Conan Doyle created and the way that that has been able to be reinterpreted over and over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-lee-miller/i-really-respect-the-world-that-arthur-conan-doyle-created-and-the/) [Jonny Lee Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-lee-miller/) > [“I reached for the prescription. In a vigorous scrawl, he inked: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes. Take ten pages,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-setterfield/i-reached-for-the-prescription-in-a-vigorous-scrawl-he-inked-sir/) [Diane Setterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-setterfield/) > [ We made our Moriarty very different to \[Conan\] Doyle's. He's Irish, and he brings all his charm, his twinkle and his humor to it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-gatiss/we-made-our-moriarty-very-different-to-conan-doyle-s-he-s-irish-and/) [Mark Gatiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-gatiss/) > [I can still remember. I was ill, and I was seven, and my father didn't want me to just read children's books. He came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/i-can-still-remember-i-was-ill-and-i-was-seven-and-my-father-didn-t/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [It’s impossible to read The Poison Belt, written in 1913, and not see in its exterminating vision a shadow of the coming war that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-dahlquist/it-s-impossible-to-read-the-poison-belt-written-in-1913-and-not-see/) [Gordon Dahlquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-dahlquist/) > [Conan Doyle is amazing in the way he has Watson describe Sherlock’s posture, mood swings, his hand gestures, and so forth in the novels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/conan-doyle-is-amazing-in-the-way-he-has-watson-describe-sherlock-s/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) ## More by Patti Smith > [I had a really happy childhood - my siblings were great, my mother was very fanciful, and I loved to read. But there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-had-a-really-happy-childhood-my-siblings-were-great-my-mother-was/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [As a citizen, hopefully I'm humanist. As an artist, I'm free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/as-a-citizen-hopefully-i-m-humanist-as-an-artist-i-m-free/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [ Sometimes \[people\] seem to think I came out of the womb, you know, cursing, with an electric guitar. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/sometimes-people-seem-to-think-i-came-out-of-the-womb-you-know/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“Inside it he inscribed a few lines of poetry, portraying us as the gypsy and the fool, one creating silence; one listening closely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/inside-it-he-inscribed-a-few-lines-of-poetry-portraying-us-as-the/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Who can know the heart of youth but youth itself?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/who-can-know-the-heart-of-youth-but-youth-itself/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“I clawed through a thick web of the culture’s consciousness that I hadn’t known existed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-clawed-through-a-thick-web-of-the-culture-s-consciousness-that-i/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Ultimately, we are not seeking others to bow to, but to reinforce our individual natures, to help us suffer our own choices, to guide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/ultimately-we-are-not-seeking-others-to-bow-to-but-to-reinforce-our/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [If I'm taking a picture of Brancusi's grave, I know that there's something of him, of his mortal remains, beneath my feet, and there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/if-i-m-taking-a-picture-of-brancusi-s-grave-i-know-that-there-s/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I'm certain, as we filled down the great staircase, that I appeared the same as ever, a moping twelve years-old, all arms and legs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-m-certain-as-we-filled-down-the-great-staircase-that-i-appeared-the/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [In art and dream may you proceed with abandon. In life may you proceed with balance and stealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/in-art-and-dream-may-you-proceed-with-abandon-in-life-may-you-proceed/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [New York is the thing that seduced me. New York is the thing that formed me. New York is the thing that deformed me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/new-york-is-the-thing-that-seduced-me-new-york-is-the-thing-that/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I don't wanna be equal with anybody. I wanna be above equal. I don't think most people are equal to me. I'd like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-don-t-wanna-be-equal-with-anybody-i-wanna-be-above-equal-i-don-t/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I think I'm constantly in a state of adjustment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-think-i-m-constantly-in-a-state-of-adjustment/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Somehow I started introducing writing into my drawings, and after a time, the language took over and I started getting very involved with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/somehow-i-started-introducing-writing-into-my-drawings-and-after-a/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I'm okay with roaming around the world in my bunk for days on end. Maybe every third day I'll get a shower or stumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-m-okay-with-roaming-around-the-world-in-my-bunk-for-days-on-end/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) [Explore all 595 Patti Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) ## More Arthur quotes > [... Arthur Gride, whose bleared eyes gloated only over the outward beauties, and were blind to the spirit which reigned within, evinced - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/arthur-gride-whose-bleared-eyes-gloated-only-over-the-outward/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Merlin' was awesome, but the costumes would drive you insane. Every day, you'd get into chain mail and wear 30 pounds of that stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-macken/merlin-was-awesome-but-the-costumes-would-drive-you-insane-every-day/) [Eoin Macken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-macken/) > [What a wonderfully exciting cough,' said the little man, quite startled by it, 'do you mind if I join you?' And with that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/what-a-wonderfully-exciting-cough-said-the-little-man-quite-startled/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [A guy called Arthur Brown... was a big influence of mine... and also Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-dickinson/a-guy-called-arthur-brown-was-a-big-influence-of-mine-and-also-ian/) [Bruce Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-dickinson/) > [I have a sense of them being Easter religions, for some reason. Christianity, of course, is a mystery religion, too, and I believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-have-a-sense-of-them-being-easter-religions-for-some-reason/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [And then, all of a sudden, you're like, all that's great and fun, but Arthur Miller's in my dressing room. This is the third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-krause/and-then-all-of-a-sudden-you-re-like-all-that-s-great-and-fun-but/) [Peter Krause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-krause/) > [For five hundred dollars, I'll name a subatomic particle after you. Some of my satisfied customers include Arthur C. Quark and George Meson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/for-five-hundred-dollars-i-ll-name-a-subatomic-particle-after-you/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [Arthur Conan Doyle was entranced by the notion of a brilliant detective who can deduce everything a stranger has been up to from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-yglesias/arthur-conan-doyle-was-entranced-by-the-notion-of-a-brilliant/) [Rafael Yglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-yglesias/) > [“That boy had wanted to be Ser Arthur Dayne, but someplace along the way he had become the Smiling Knight instead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/that-boy-had-wanted-to-be-ser-arthur-dayne-but-someplace-along-the/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [The book that really, really shaped my politics and has forever is Arthur Koestler's "Darkness at Noon," which is a novel based on terrible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/the-book-that-really-really-shaped-my-politics-and-has-forever-is/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [Since I came here I have learned that Chester A. Arthur is one man and the President of the United States is another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-a-arthur/since-i-came-here-i-have-learned-that-chester-a-arthur-is-one-man-and/) [Chester A. Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-a-arthur/) > [“In the energies of the Green Knight, we have an Elder who comes to the entire court of Arthur to challenge and "open a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-chandler/in-the-energies-of-the-green-knight-we-have-an-elder-who-comes-to-the/) [Virginia Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-chandler/) > [“AT&T developed cross-country systems of microwave relay towers, which marched across the countryside from coast to coast and border to border, every 20 to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-t-developed-cross-country-systems-of-microwave-relay-towers-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Now that Marilyn Monroe is kosher, Arthur Miller can eat her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-levant/now-that-marilyn-monroe-is-kosher-arthur-miller-can-eat-her/) [Oscar Levant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-levant/) > [You don't have to believe that there was a King Arthur to get the significance of those stories, but Christians say we have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/you-don-t-have-to-believe-that-there-was-a-king-arthur-to-get-the/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) [Browse all 340 Arthur quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arthur/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Arthur Conan Doyle had to be Sherlock Holmes in order to envision how Sherlock Holmes would unravel a mystery. He had to be in Sherlock's situations. 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