“ You gave too much rein to your imagination. Imagination is a good servant, and a bad master. The simplest explanation is always the most likely. ”
Agatha Christie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920). copy citation
| Author | Agatha Christie |
|---|---|
| Source | The Mysterious Affair at Styles |
| Topic | imagination simplicity explanation |
| Date | 1920 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/863/863-h/863-h.htm |
Context
“Events proved that I was right in my supposition.»
«That was very ingenious,» I could not help admitting. «I must confess that the conclusions I drew from those few scribbled words were quite erroneous.»
He smiled.
«You gave too much rein to your imagination. Imagination is a good servant, and a bad master. The simplest explanation is always the most likely.»
«Another point—how did you know that the key of the despatch-case had been lost?»
«I did not know it. It was a guess that turned out to be correct. You observed that it had a piece of twisted wire through the handle.” source
«That was very ingenious,» I could not help admitting. «I must confess that the conclusions I drew from those few scribbled words were quite erroneous.»
He smiled.
«You gave too much rein to your imagination. Imagination is a good servant, and a bad master. The simplest explanation is always the most likely.»
«Another point—how did you know that the key of the despatch-case had been lost?»
«I did not know it. It was a guess that turned out to be correct. You observed that it had a piece of twisted wire through the handle.” source
Meaning and analysis
