Contrariness Quotes

“To hell with you. To hell with you and to hell with the Internet.”
― Ray Bradbury

“For a while she considered being ill, but she changed her mind...”
― Tove Jansson, The Summer Book

“…he knew no other pleasure but what consisted in opposition.”
― James Hogg, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner

“Stand out.

Someone has to. It is easy to follow along. It can feel strange to do or say something different. But without that unease, there is no freedom. Remember Rosa Parks. The moment you set an example, the spell of the status quo is broken, and others will follow.”
― Timothy Snyder, On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century

“He had a simple maxim for all competitive or adversarial situations: work out what the other party least wants you to do, and then do it. Relieving your feelings was fun, but the best course of action was to make things as difficult as possible for the person trying to make things difficult for you.”
― John Lanchester, Capital

“Rebellion is as much of a cage as obedience is. They both mean living in reaction to someone else's way instead of forging your own.”
― Glennon Doyle, Untamed: Stop Pleasing, Start Living / A Toolkit for Modern Life

“Jeżeli dadzą ci papier w linie, pisz w poprzek.”
― Alice Sebold, The Lovely Bones

“America, you won’t obey.
You won’t hunt
or heel or stay.

America, you won’t do
anything I want you to.
(To tell the truth,
I like that about you.)

You’re too much.”
― Kevin Young, For the Confederate Dead

“America, I can’t leave you
well enough alone.

America, you’ve lost
your way home—”
― Kevin Young, For the Confederate Dead

“Look, a butterfly. Did you make a wish?

You don't wish on butterflies.

You do so. Did you make one?

Yes.

It doesn't count.”
― Louise Glück, Meadowlands