The Gadfly Quotes

Monsignor Montan-n-nelli... is undoubtedly all you say, my dear doctor. In fact, he appears to be so much too good for this world that he ought to be politely escorted into the next. ~ Ethel Lilian Voynich

Conflict is the gadfly of thought. It stirs us to observation and memory. It instigates invention. It shocks us out of sheep-like passivity, and sets us at noting and contriving ... conflict is a sine qua non of reflection and ingenuity. ~ John Dewey

The pine trees were rows of knife-blades whispering: "Fall upon us!" and in the gathering darkness the torrent roared and howled, beating against its rocking prison walls with the frenzy of an everlasting despair.
"Padre!" Arthur rose, shuddering, and drew back from the precipice. "It is like hell."
"No, my son," Montanelli answered softly, "it is only like a human soul. ~ Ethel Lilian Voynich

I'm a chameleon, so changeable. I see myself as a gadfly and a questioner. ~ Philip Johnson

By now, with all our modern technology, there should be no poverty left on earth. ~ E.A. Bucchianeri

A man doesn't like to have his ego popped, especially when he prides himself on his sagacity, and then to be proved wrong by a man who claims he doesn't know anything. ~ E.A. Bucchianeri

I am an artist you know ... it is my right to be odd. ~ E.A. Bucchianeri

I am a kamikaze gadfly. ~ Mo Rocca

Could mankind declare it was truly wise? Did man know everything on earth, or would he ever? Certainly not! ~ E.A. Bucchianeri

They kill me because they are afraid of me; and what more can any man's heart desire? ~ Ethel Lilian Voynich