Favorite Quotes (All Series)

[sherlockandjohn]

Thought I would share some of my favorite quotes from the show, as it is heavy with brilliant dialogue. What are your favorite quotes?

 

Some of mine are:

• "Not much cop, this caring lark" (Sherlock, TGG)

Sherlock's got a valid point here, though it's perhaps a bit disturbing. And if John had chosen to remain angry and not help Sherlock, would that be justifiable in any way?

• "I'm Sherlock Holmes, and I always work alone, because no one else can compete with my massive intellect!" (John, TBB)

So true for Sherlock all the way through the series!

• "Thank you for smoking" (Sherlock, THoB)
• "The wall had it coming" (Sherlock, TGG)

Quite simply two very funny and excentric quotes

• "No one can fake being such an annoying dick all the time" (John, TRF)

Awwwww! What else can I say? Tough love!

[T.o.b.y]

Oh no! The favorite quotes thread actually is happening! Well, don't say I didn't warn you when the entire dialogue from all six episodes gradually ends up being posted here.

 

I am sure I can (and will) come up with a lot more, but the first of many favorites that popped into my head is:

 

"This hospital's full of people dying, Doctor. Why don't you go and cry by their bedside and see what good it does them?"

[sherlockandjohn]

 I know you're right... couldn't help myself.

 

I love that quote from TGG. That episode holds some of the most compelling and disturbing arguments for the uselessness of empathy. I don't agree with all of it - I would react much like John - but Sherlock makes some valid points. Plus, he's honest.

[T.o.b.y]

 I know you're right... couldn't help myself.

 

I love that quote from TGG. That episode holds some of the most compelling and disturbing arguments for the uselessness of empathy. I don't agree with all of it - I would react much like John - but Sherlock makes some valid points. Plus, he's honest.

 

... and he is right! Empathy, at least too much of it, can really get in the way of doing good work, and I do mean good as in for the greater good and not just a job well done.

 

I don't find Sherlock's attitude disturbing at all. It's a bit extreme, but I guess it's supposed to be his way of coping with the gruesome aspects of his self-created job and probably other challenges of life, too. Also, note that he never said he didn't care about people, just that he wanted to avoid the "mistake" of doing so.

 

You'd have to be a real hero to have a great brain and a great heart and do both of them equal justice. Doyle's Mr Holmes almost managed it and I think Sherlock is going that way, but he's got a long way to go and I do hope won't arrive for a long time to come. I love (and admire!) him just as he was when he said those words.

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

"No one can fake being such an annoying dick all the time" (John, TRF)

Awwwww! What else can I say? Tough love!

I love that line (and that whole little scene, actually).  There's so much going on, expressed more with looks than with words.  That line would seem to be a typical bit of John's sarcastic humor, but he doesn't smile, and even though Sherlock's face lights up in response, he doesn't actually smile either.  Every time I watch that scene, I find myself expecting John to pause and then grin, and the tension between "should" and "does" is almost unbearable.  I think it's just perfect!

 

I would love to see how that scene was written in the script.  Does it say John doesn't smile?  I've heard that Martin Freeman generally does something a little different for each take of a scene.  Would love to see the other takes of that one!

 

Well, don't say I didn't warn you when the entire dialogue from all six episodes gradually ends up being posted here.

 

You'll have some help with doing that, I'm sure!

 

Empathy, at least too much of it, can really get in the way of doing good work, and I do mean good as in for the greater good and not just a job well done.

 

... and I'm sure that John, as a doctor, is well aware of that -- he needs to care enough, but not too much.  But Sherlock's apparent lack of any empathy whatsoever seems inhuman to him -- and to me -- I must say, if they were both doctors, I'd much prefer to be treated by John!

 

[T.o.b.y]

 

I must say, if they were both doctors, I'd much prefer to be treated by John!

 

Don't put thoughts like that in my brain, for heavens sake...

The original Mr Holmes would have made a great doctor (and was based on one).

 

Ahem, where were we? Oh, quotes. Yes. Hm, I think it makes sense that neither smile when John says that line about the annoying dick. It's his way of saying "I believe in you" and what's funny about that? I think neither laugh because it actually is a very serious moment, a crucial moment for Sherlock, and the sarcasm is just due to John's inability to express (and Sherlock's inability to accept) deep feeling directly, unmasked.

 

Oh, another favorite bit of mine:

 

John: "Fun? There's a woman lying dead"

Sherlock: "Perfectly sound analysis, John, but I was hoping you'd go deeper"

 

[sherlockandjohn]

 

 

You'd have to be a real hero to have a great brain and a great heart and do both of them equal justice. Doyle's Mr Holmes almost managed it and I think Sherlock is going that way, but he's got a long way to go and I do hope won't arrive for a long time to come. I love (and admire!) him just as he was when he said those words.

 

 

 

I agree; he is far from perfect, and I wouldn't want him to be. I also admire his ability - or decision - to detach himself from feelings in order to get the work done. His work, after all, saves lives, stops criminals, and so on.

 

However, the disturbing point for me, I think, is the potential risk. Could his detachment cause him to push aside what's important (people) and risk their lives rather than save them? Or does Sherlock always make the right decisions? (No one always does, though Sherlock seems to come close )

 

Well, I could go on, but it seems a topic for a thread in itself :-)

[sherlockandjohn]

 

The sarcasm is just due to John's inability to express (and Sherlock's inability to accept) deep feeling directly, unmasked.

 

Exactly!

On that note: I wonder how much sarcasm they've used in the next episode to cover up the sentiment that might surface - that is, after all the anger has subdued

[Carol the Dabbler]

I think it makes sense that neither smile when John says that line about the annoying dick. It's his way of saying "I believe in you" and what's funny about that? I think neither laugh because it actually is a very serious moment, a crucial moment for Sherlock, and the sarcasm is just due to John's inability to express (and Sherlock's inability to accept) deep feeling directly, unmasked.

 

Oh dear, I thought I'd said something like that, but now I see that I lead up to my point but then failed to actually make it.  Thanks for letting me know!  (I've added a sentence back there.)

 

I think that little scene was just exquisitely done.  A smile would have weakened it, perhaps ruined it.

 

[T.o.b.y]

 

However, the disturbing point for me, I think, is the potential risk. Could his detachment cause him to push aside what's important (people) and risk their lives rather than save them?

 

Yes, I got the impression in series 1 that it could and maybe would have done that if he hadn't found himself between Moriarty and John and been forced to "chose a side" like his brother put it.

 

Carol, sorry I misunderstood you. Oh, I hate it so much when that happens to me...

 

As for sarcasm in upcoming episodes, the more the better, in my opinion.

 

Hey, I'm surprised nobody has quoted this yet. It's definitely one of my favorites:

 

 "I've got a date."

"What?"

"It's when two people who like each other go out and have fun"

"That's what I was suggesting."

"No, it wasn't. At least, I hope not."  

 

I love the idea that Sherlock simply cannot or will not understand the importance of love and sex for other people. His attitude seems to be "what on earth do you need that for?" and I find that a lot more amusing (and more true to the original) than imagining he has any romantic intentions himself. It sort of reminds me of Holmes' behavior in The Sign of Four after Watson has met (and quite obviously hit on) Miss Morstan. He starts actually poring out coffee in the mornings and at one point makes this self-ironic remark:

 

"Watson, you have never yet recognized my merits as a housekeeper"

 

It's as if he was saying: "What do you want to get married for? I can do that kind of stuff perfectly well" and simply doesn't get that there may be other reasons why a wife would be wanted than food and drink and hospitality.

 

Oh dear, this is me subtexting at my worst... Sorry, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, sorry...

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Carol, sorry I misunderstood you. Oh, I hate it so much when that happens to me...

 

You merely misunderstood my intent.  After this, I'd better make sure I've actually said what I was thinking.  I certainly don't expect you to be a mind reader!  

 

[sherlockandjohn]

"Shut up, everybody, shut up! Don't move, don't speak, don't breathe. Anderson, turn the other way, you're putting me off".

"What, my face is?"

[T.o.b.y]

"Shut up, everybody, shut up! Don't move, don't speak, don't breathe. Anderson, turn the other way, you're putting me off".

"What, my face is?"

 

Yes! I love that one! And it gets even better when Lestrade tells Anderson to comply.

[T.o.b.y]

And another favorite (from my favorite episode, too):

 

"I will burn the heart out of you."

"I have been reliably informed that I don't have one"

 

"But we both know that's not quite true..."

[Janie]

"Shame on you, John Watson!"

"Shame on me?!"

"Mrs Hudson leave Baker Street? England would fall."

 

 

[T.o.b.y]

Oh yes, that's a god one. And it reminds me of my other favorite:

 

"Don't snivel, Mrs Hudson, it'll do nothing to impede the flight of a bullet. What a tender world that would be..."

[sherlockandjohn]

And another favorite (from my favorite episode, too):

 

"I will burn the heart out of you."

"I have been reliably informed that I don't have one"

 

"But we both know that's not quite true..."

 

Oh yes! Love that. Of course Moriarty knows Sherlock better than Sherlock would like... "Know thy enemy".

And this brings us again to the discussion of how caring can be a disadvantage... hm

 

Another favorite quote of mine:

"I don't have friends. I've just got one".

[sherlockandjohn]

"Shame on you, John Watson!"

"Shame on me?!"

"Mrs Hudson leave Baker Street? England would fall."

 

Yes, that one is lovely! Sherlock can be a dear sometimes

[sherlockandjohn]

"Sorry about dinner".

Benedict's delivery of that line was chilling!

[T.o.b.y]

Yes, the actor really makes the most of his lines, doesn't he? "Sorry about dinner" sounded so cruel and yet so hurt at the same time. And I always melt to the core at "tender world". Though I like that quote for the words itself, the delivery more than does them justice.

[sherlockandjohn]

Oh, a little scene I love:

 

"Family is all we have in the end, Mycroft Holmes".

"Oh, shut up, Mrs. Hudson".

"Mycroft!"

Silence.

"Apologies".

"Thank you".

"Though, do in fact shut up".

 

Only Sherlock can talk that way to Mrs. Hudson, and get away with it

[Janie]

Molly: "I was wondering if you'd like to have coffee."

Sherlock: "Black, two sugars, please. I'll be upstairs."

Molly: "Okay." 

 

Poor Molly 

[Carol the Dabbler]

"But it's the solar system!"

 

[T.o.b.y]

Another favorite quote of mine:

"I don't have friends. I've just got one".

 

 

Another example of how an actor's delivery (or a director's advice, who knows) can make or break a line, in this case the former, of course. It's not even true, but the way Sherlock says it shows that he, at least at that moment, utterly believes it. His honesty and directness there is almost painful.

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

... the way Sherlock says it shows that he, at least at that moment, utterly believes it.

 

Or -- he's pulling out all the stops so John will believe it -- and start acting like his friend again.  This is apparently the first time John has ever given him a major cold shoulder, and it must be very disorienting to Sherlock, making him desperate enough to keep trying fixes until one of them actually works.

 

"I've just got one" isn't even the one that does the trick.  That honor belongs (albeit somewhat tenuously) to his subsequent "conductor of light" speech, which finally gets John's full attention, if not his full acceptance.

 

Not saying that Sherlock's a phony -- I'm reasonably certain that he means everything he says in this scene.  But we already know that he can be a very convincing actor (as in his conversation with the "grieving widow" in "Great Game"), so I suspect he's handling John like a fish on a line here -- feeding him whatever it takes to get the effect he's after.