Flannery O'Connor Quotes

A mistake made by many people with great convictions is that they will let nothing stand in the way of their views, not even kindness.

Nothing is more dangerous in practice, than an obstinate, unbending adherence to a system.

The opposite of compromise is fanaticism and death.

Nothing outrages and disappoints an extremist more than compromise.

It is not possible to unknow what you do know - the result of that is fanaticism.

I'm a purist.

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.

Whoever is new to power is always harsh.

If it's tough believing what you believe, then maybe it's time to move. But if you are someone who militantly enforces your opinion about anything, then you need to get out of town.

My father was judgmental and kind of mean, and I'm like that. And he was very perfectionistic, and I'm like that. And he was very hard on himself, and I'm like that.

You will always find a few people in any area that would like things done completely their way.

The more one judges, the less one loves.

Consistency frequently launches its devotees into obstinacy.

The obstinate Man does not hold Opinions; they hold him.

His has a rigidity, an arrogance, and an obstinacy that will cause him to foment a thousand unfortunate incidents.

Extremists think "communication" means agreeing with them.

Pigheaded covers a multitude of virtues - as well as sins.

I think I'm very hardheaded.

I became quite a diva, and intolerant, and people knew when I was not pleased. Some people were afraid of me, and other people just kind of blew me off. But I wasn't making any friends. I only had one person who remained my friend, and he was my boyfriend for a while. Even though I told him I was gay, he was like, 'That's alright.'

I don't suffer fools, and I like to see fools suffer.

I think my whole deal was I didn't think other people had a right to an opinion. I think the problem I had was, in real life, it was my way or the highway, and if people disagreed with me, then they were just wrong.

I'm intolerant often, especially of incompetence, particularly my own.

Yes, I can be rigid and adamant about a point of view.

I'm quite a ruthless, cold-hearted bastard. I always have been.

The man who sees absolutes, where all other men see nuances and shades of meaning, is either a prophet, or a quack.