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Discovery is seeing what everyone else saw and thinking what no one thought.

He recognized the dangers involved in spinning theories too quickly and then, perhaps subtly and unwittingly, twisting facts to suit theories rather than constructing theories to account for the facts.

Holmes trained himself to see what others would overlook, a talent that didn't merely come naturally, but with intentionality and due diligence.

Healthy skepticism about appearances tends to be a salient feature of any credible epistemologist.

10 Sometimes reading, Holmes realized, is the most practical course of action of all, a sentiment likely echoed by anyone who's ever had occasion to teach a philosophy course.

He would habitually make reference to analogues from the history of crime, and on occasion be fairly sure of the outcome of his investigation from its outset because of its conspicuous resemblance to its precedents.

Inspector MacDonald said, “Then he's no use to me. I'm a practical man.” Holmes responded, “Mr. Mac, the most practical thing you ever did in your life would be to shut yourself up for three months and read twelve hours a day at the annals of crime.”

“They lay all the evidence before me, and I am generally able, by the help of my knowledge of the history of crime, to set them straight. There is a strong family resemblance about misdeeds, and if you have all the details of a thousand at your finger ends, it is odd if you can't unravel the thousand and first.”

He had considered additional volumes on animals, the influence of trade on the form of the hand, and typewriters.

the balance of probability” sounds much more inductive than deductive.