It has always seemed to me that so long as you produce your dramatic effect, accuracy of detail matters little. I have never striven for it and I have made some bad mistakes in consequence. What matter if I hold my readers?
Arthur Conan DoyleRead
All right, Watson. Don’t look so scared,” he muttered in a very weak voice. “It’s not as bad as it seems.” “Thank God for that!” “I’m a bit of a single-stick expert, as you know. I took most of them on my guard. It was the second man that was too much for me.” “What can I do, Holmes? Of course, it was that damned fellow who set them on. I’ll go and thrash the hide off him if you give the word.” “Good old Watson!(...)
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the idea that fear is often worse than the reality of a situation.
In this quote from Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, there is a conversation between Holmes and Watson where Holmes reassures Watson that the situation they are in is not as dire as it appears. This exchange emphasizes the importance of facing fears and not being overwhelmed by anticipation of negative outcomes, suggesting that courage can help navigate challenges with a clearer perspective.
Themes
CourageFearReassuranceConfidenceStrength
In practice
Example use cases
This quote is perfect to boost the spirits of a friend dealing with anxiety.
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I could not rest, Watson, I could not sit quiet in my chair, if I thought that such a man as Professor Moriarty were walking the streets of London unchallenged.
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It seems very strange ... that in the course of the world's history so obvious an improvement should never have been adopted. ... The next generation of Britishers would be the better for having had this extra hour of daylight in their childhood.
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