Obstinacy

Obstinacy is acting in a manner characterized by stubbornly adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course, usually with implied unreasonableness. Quotes An obstinate man does not hold opinions, but they hold him; for when he is once possessed with an error, it is, like a devil, only cast out with great difficulty. Bishop Joseph Butler, reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 437. We sometimes speak of stubborn facts. Nonsense! A fact is a mere babe when compared with a stubborn theory. Samuel McChord Crothers, The Gentle Reader (1903) p. 277 His still refuted quirks he still repeats,New-raised objections with new quibbles meets;Till sinking in the quicksand he defends,He dies disputing, and the contest ends. William Cowper, reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 437. Obstinacy is ever most positive when it is most in the wrong. Madame Necker; reported in Louis Klopsch, ed., Many Thoughts of Many Minds: A Treasury of Quotations From the Literature of Every Land and Every Age (1896), p. 195. References Many Thoughts of Many Minds Klopsch, Louis, 1852-1910 1896 External links obstinancy category:Themes category:Vices