Naomi NovikI am of the opinion", Tharkay said, "that you ought not assign to free will something more likely the consequence of a sharp blow to the skull.
About This Quote
In the context of a conversation between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, this quote from The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle is a reference to a hypothetical situation where a person has been killed, but there is an abundance of evidence that points toward murder. In such a situation, Holmes believes that it is very unlikely that any person could have committed the crime on their own accord, so he suggests that it was probably an accident. In this context, Tharkay is questioning whether it was possible for free will to have been involved in the actions of the suspect. The question was obviously rhetorical as Holmes resisted the idea.
Source: Blood Of Tyrants
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- I am of the opinion", Tharkay said, "that you ought not assign to free will something more likely the consequence of a sharp blow to the skull.