He did not marry. He sees women as very distracting. He did not hate them, but he disliked them a little.------

"But love is an emotional thing, and whatever is emotional is opposed to that true, cold reason which I place above all things. I should never marry myself, lest I bias my judgment." - Sherlock Holmes, 'The Sign of Four'

It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They were admirable things for the observer - excellent for drawing the veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a nature such as his. - John Watson, 'A Scandal in Bohemia'

As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one of his problems. - John Watson, 'The Adventure of the Copper Beeches'

His aversion to women, and his disinclination to form new friendships, were both typical of his unemotional character, . . . - John Watson, 'The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter'

"Should I ever marry, Watson, I should hope to inspire my wife with some feeling which would prevent her from being walked off by a housekeeper when my corpse was lying within a few yards of her." - Sherlock Holmes, 'The Valley of Fear'

. . . he had a remarkable gentleness and courtesy in his dealings with women. He disliked and distrusted the sex, but he was always a chivalrous opponent. - John Watson from 'The Adventure of the Dying Detective'

From 'The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton':

___"You would not call me a marrying man, Watson?"

___"No, indeed!"

___"You will be interested to hear that I am engaged."

___"My dear fellow! I congrat -"

___"To Milverton's housemaid."

___"Good heavens, Holmes!"

___"I wanted information, Watson."

___"Surely you have gone too far?"

___"It was a most necessary step. I am a plumber with a rising business, Escott by name. I have walked out with her each evening, and I have talked with her. Good heavens, those talks! However, I have got all I wanted. I know Milverton's house as I know the palm of my hand."

___"But the girl, Holmes?"

___He shrugged his shoulders.

___"You can't help it, my dear Watson. You must play your cards as best you can when such a stake is on the table. However, I rejoice to say that I have a hated rival who will certainly cut me out the instant that my back is turned.

"I have never loved, Watson, but if I did and if the woman I loved had met such an end, I might act even as our lawless lion-hunter has done. Who knows?" - Sherlock Holmes, 'The Adventure of the Devil's-Foot Root'. By the way the lion-hunter took revenge upon the killer of his love.

Resources

Top Categories

Product

Company