Who Said It (2) - Holmes or Poirot? Quiz

Answer: Holmes

This quote comes from the 1890 novel, "The Sign of the Four" (also known as "The Sign of Four"). In this novel we learn that Sherlock Holmes has a drug habit - morphine as well as cocaine.

When Holmes asks if Watson would care to try cocaine, Watson answers in the negative and Holmes replies, "Perhaps you are right, Watson. I suppose that its influence is physically a bad one. I find it, however, so transcendently stimulating and clarifying to the mind that its secondary action is a matter of small moment...But I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation". Subsequent passages in the novel indicate that Holmes tends to indulge in drugs when he lacks the mental stimulation of working on a case.

Context is important here because drugs that are illegal in today's society were freely available in chemist shops or pharmacies in Victorian England. Their side effects and addictiveness were not as appreciated as they are today. Using what we would call "recreational drugs" was common among writers in Victorian England - for example, Shelley, Keats, Coleridge, and Dickens - as they believed it stimulated their creativity. As both a writer and a doctor, Conan Doyle was almost certainly familiar with these drugs, although there is no evidence as to whether he himself indulged.

Answer: Poirot

In "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" (1920), Poirot refers to the importance of instinct on more than one occasion. He encourages Hastings to divulge his thoughts on the murder: "Do not fear. Speak your mind. You should always pay attention to your instincts." Although Hastings is invariably wrong in his conclusions, Poirot finds Hastings' impressions often provide the catalyst that puts him on the right track towards solving the case.

Answer: Poirot

Throughout the various Poirot novels and short stories, Poirot frequently refers to "the little grey cells", meaning brain cells, to refer to mental functions such as logic, reasoning and deduction. The above quote comes from "Peril at End House" (1932), where Poirot tells Hastings that although he is retired, his little grey cells still function.

Later in the novel, Poirot tells Hastings that the first stage to solving the crime is "order and method, to arrange the facts with neatness and precision". The next stage is "psychology...the correct employment of the little grey cells".

Answer: Holmes

The quote comes from "The Problem of Thor Bridge", a short story from 1922 which is contained in the collection, "The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes" (1927). There is very little information regarding Sherlock Holmes' financial situation contained in the Canon (the name given to the collected works of Arthur Conan Doyle which relate to Sherlock Holmes).

It is generally assumed that he was probably a man of independent means, perhaps due to an inheritance, since he does not appear to be overly concerned with earning a living.

Although he charges for his professional services, he will turn down cases if they do not interest him and will go without payment if the problem is intriguing enough.

Answer: Holmes

With this quote, Holmes admonishes the man who hired him in "The Adventure of the Priory School" (1904), from the collection "The Return of Sherlock Holmes" (1905). An accomplice is enlisted to aid a kidnapping. Although murder is not intended, an innocent man is killed in the commission of that crime.

The story demonstrates that Holmes has his own sense of justice, one which does not necessarily coincide with British law. To explain this would require spoilers, so you will need to read the story for clarification.

Answer: Poirot

Poirot's moustache is somewhat of a trademark. However, when Agatha Christie first introduced Poirot in "The Mysterious Affair at Styles", she described his moustache as merely "very stiff and military", which implies that it was likely neat, short and well trimmed. However, in subsequent novels, his moustache was described as being quite substantial. It has been described more than once as "magnificent" and "suspiciously black". In "Hallowe'en Party", Poirot is said to be pleased with "the profusion of his moustaches" and in "Hickory Dickory Dock", his moustache is described as "a moustache of ferocious proportions".

The quote in the question comes from "Double Sin" (1961).

Answer: Poirot

Poirot loves symmetry, order and method, a recurring theme throughout the novels and short stories in which he is featured. He chose his residence at Whitehaven Mansions because of its pleasing symmetry. He finds it "insupportable that every hen lays an egg of a different size! What symmetry can there be on the breakfast table?" He cannot resist straightening objects if they are crooked. And in "The Adventure of the Western Star" (1924), he admonishes Hastings for replacing a book in the wrong place on the bookshelf. Poirot arranges his books in order of height.

Answer: Holmes

Holmes is referring to Irene Adler in this quote from "A Scandal in Bohemia", the first short story to feature Sherlock Holmes. It was published in The Strand Magazine in 1891 and subsequently in the collection, "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" (1892). Watson opens the story with the following words: "To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name.

In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex. 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".

Sherlock Holmes admired Irene Adler for her beauty and her intelligence. She outsmarted him and for that he respected her.

Answer: Holmes

The famous quote, "Elementary, my dear Watson" was never uttered by Holmes in any of Conan Doyle's works. The phrases "Elementary" and "My dear Watson" do occur a number of times throughout the stories, but never together. Similar phrases, such as "Elementary, my dear fellow" and "Exactly, my dear Watson", also occur. The (mis)quote, however, does occur in numerous movies and pastiches (Sherlock Holmes stories written by authors other than Conan Doyle) and is probably the most famous one associated with Sherlock Holmes.

Answer: Poirot

The point Poirot is making is that engaging suspects in conversation is the key to gaining information to solve a crime. In "Hickory Dickory Dock" (1955), he said that all the murderers he had ever come across enjoyed talking and eventually they would say something "unfortunate" which would expose them.

The quote in the question comes from "Hercule Poirot's Christmas" (1938). In the same novel, he also said "There is nothing so dangerous for anyone who has something to hide as conversation!"