“What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence,” returned my companion, bitterly. “The question is, what can you make people believe that you have done?”

Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) British writer and physician

Story (1886-04), “A Study in Scarlet,” Part 2, ch. 7 [Holmes], Beeton’s Christmas Annual, Vol. 28 (1887-11-21)
    (Source)

After the police had taken credit for the capture of the murderer.

Published in novel form 1888-07.