Holmes had cultivated the ability to still the noise of the mind, by smoking his pipe and playing nontunes on the violin. He once compared this mental state with the sort of passive seeing that enables the eye, in a dim light or at a great distance, to grasp details with greater clarity by focusing slightly to one side of the object of interest. When active, strained vision only obscures and frustrates, looking away often permits the eyes to see and interpret the shapes of what it sees. Thus does inattention allow the mind to register the still, small whisper of the daughter of the voice.
Holmes possessed a unique ability to quiet his mind, which he achieved through smoking his pipe and playing his violin. He compared this mental clarity to a visual technique where focusing slightly away from an object allows the eye to discern fine details in low light or at a distance. This method of passive observation enables better understanding without the interference of overly active or strained focus.
By encouraging a sort of mental inattention, Holmes allowed his mind to perceive subtle cues and insights that would otherwise go unnoticed. This concept suggests that sometimes, stepping back and not forcing clarity can lead to deeper understanding and perception, akin to how one might see shapes more clearly when not fixating directly on them.
