“
I did not attend his funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.
”
”
Mark Twain
“
Fat’ is usually the first insult a girl throws at another girl when she wants to hurt her.
I mean, is ‘fat’ really the worst thing a human being can be? Is ‘fat’ worse than ‘vindictive’, ‘jealous’, ‘shallow’, ‘vain’, ‘boring’ or ‘cruel’? Not to me; but then, you might retort, what do I know about the pressure to be skinny? I’m not in the business of being judged on my looks, what with being a writer and earning my living by using my brain…
I went to the British Book Awards that evening. After the award ceremony I bumped into a woman I hadn’t seen for nearly three years. The first thing she said to me? ‘You’ve lost a lot of weight since the last time I saw you!’
‘Well,’ I said, slightly nonplussed, ‘the last time you saw me I’d just had a baby.’
What I felt like saying was, ‘I’ve produced my third child and my sixth novel since I last saw you. Aren’t either of those things more important, more interesting, than my size?’ But no – my waist looked smaller! Forget the kid and the book: finally, something to celebrate!
I’ve got two daughters who will have to make their way in this skinny-obsessed world, and it worries me, because I don’t want them to be empty-headed, self-obsessed, emaciated clones; I’d rather they were independent, interesting, idealistic, kind, opinionated, original, funny – a thousand things, before ‘thin’. And frankly, I’d rather they didn’t give a gust of stinking chihuahua flatulence whether the woman standing next to them has fleshier knees than they do. Let my girls be Hermiones, rather than Pansy Parkinsons.
”
”
J.K. Rowling
“
Roses are red, violets are blue, I have five fingers, the middle one is for you.
”
”
Gena Showalter (The Queen of Zombie Hearts (White Rabbit Chronicles, #3))
“
Never met such a Gorgon . . . I don't really know what a Gorgon is like, but I am quite sure that Lady Bracknell is one. In any case, she is a monster, without being a myth, which is rather unfair.
”
”
Oscar Wilde (The Importance of Being Earnest)
“
You spawny-eyed pig-faced wazzock
”
”
Mark A. Cooper (Archie Wilson & The Beasts of Loch Ness (Volume 1))
“
I'm healthy as an ox. And you?" "To compare myself with a bovine would be both ridiculous and insulting, but I'm fit as ever, if that is what you are asking.
”
”
Christopher Paolini (Brisingr (The Inheritance Cycle, #3))
“
*Appendix usually means "small outgrowth from large intestine," but in this case it means "additional information accompanying main text." Or are those really the same things? Think carefully before you insult this book.
”
”
Pseudonymous Bosch (The Name of This Book Is Secret (Secret, #1))
“
Do you never get exhausted being so wholly unbearable?
”
”
Tahereh Mafi (Ignite Me (Shatter Me, #3))
“
Last semester was intense,” I said to Dad.
“Intense?” he echoed, picking up my file. “Let’s see. On your first day at Hecate, you were attacked by a werewolf. You insulted a teacher, which resulted in semester-long cellar duty with one Archer Cross. According to the notes, the two of you became ‘close.’ Apparently close enough for you to see the mark of L’Occhio di Dio on his chest.
I flushed at that, and felt Mom’s arm tighten around me. Over the past six months, I’d filled her in on a lot of the story with Archer, but not all of it.
Specifically, the whole me-making-out-in-the-cellar-with-a-murderous-warlock-working-with-the-Eye-part.
”
”
Rachel Hawkins (Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2))
“
Coach," Annabeth said, "it was an accident. We were talking, and we fell asleep."
"Besides," Percy said, "you're starting to sound like Terminus."
Hedge narrowed his eyes. "Is that an insult, Jackson? 'Cause I'll-I'll Terminus you, buddy!
”
”
Rick Riordan (The Mark of Athena (The Heroes of Olympus, #3))
“
She's pretty." (It's amazing how girls can say this and make it the most withering insult.)
”
”
Ned Vizzini (It's Kind of a Funny Story)
“
(Sookie's Thoughts on Debbie Pelt) she had been cruel to Alcide, insulted me grievously, burned a hole in my favorite wrap and—oh—tried to kill me by proxy. Also, she had stupid hair.
”
”
Charlaine Harris (Dead to the World (Sookie Stackhouse, #4))
“
Your insult has offended me. If we were at the Peaks, we would have to duel in traditional alil'tiki'i fashion."
"Which is what?" Teft asked. "With spears?"
Rock laughed. "No, no. We upon the Peaks are not barbarians like you down here."
"How then?" Kaladin asked, genuinely curious.
"Well," Rock said, "is involving much mudbeer and singing."
“How's that a duel?”
"He who can still sing after the most drinks is winner. Plus, soon' everyone is so drunk that they forget what argument was about."
Teft laughed. "Beats knives at dawn, I suppose.
”
”
Brandon Sanderson (The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive, #1))
“
I will not stand here to be insulted by you, hedgepig," Mangiz fumed.
"Then stand somewhere else and I'll insult you there, featherbag!!
”
”
Brian Jacques (Mattimeo (Redwall, #3))
“
Otulissa swelled up to twice her normal size. 'Well, SPRINK ON YOUR SPRONK!
”
”
Kathryn Lasky (The Siege (Guardians of Ga'Hoole, #4))
“
We both want you dead. I'm bringing the friendship bracelets to the next meeting.
”
”
Nenia Campbell (Armed and Dangerous (The IMA, #2))
“
Scott Waldron.'
'What?' Robbie's lip curled in a glimace of disgust. 'The jockstrap? Why, does he need you to teach him how to read?'
I scowled at him. 'Just because he's captain of the football team doesn't mean you can be a jerk. Or are you jealous?'
'Oh, of course, that's it,' Robbie said with a sneer. 'I've always wanted the IQ of a rock. No, wait. That would be an insult to the rock...
”
”
Julie Kagawa (The Iron King (The Iron Fey, #1))
“
Much were bent over in laughter. I pushed him, and he rolled to the floor without my intended insult. “Come off it!” I stamped my foot.
“What’s so funny?” John asked, coming over in the middle of eating an apple. He tossed me an apple and I threw it at Much. He only laughed harder. “K-k-kissed Scar!” he hooted.
“Someone kissed you?” John asked, turning to me. He didn’t look like it were too funny. “Who is he?”
This made Much laugh more.
“None of your business, John Little,” I told him.
He stepped closer to me with a flat face that, if I could ape it, I’d never be kissed by a stupid girl when I didn’t want to be. “Who, Scar?”
“Jenny Percy!” Much roared.
John’s face broke open, like a smile could split a black
mood. “Wait till Rob hears this.
”
”
A.C. Gaughen (Scarlet (Scarlet, #1))
“
A last trick is to become personal, insulting and rude as soon as you perceive that your opponent has the upper hand. In becoming personal you leave the subject altogether, and turn your attack on the person by remarks of an offensive and spiteful character. This is a very popular trick, because everyone is able to carry it into effect.
”
”
Arthur Schopenhauer (The Art of Always Being Right)
“
Lepida, has anyone ever told you that you're a cruel spiteful selfish slut?...You're vicious. You're unprincipled. You mistreat your slaves and abuse your daughter. And furthermore you're the worst, most neglectful, most criminal wife in Rome. I think we can go now.
”
”
Kate Quinn (Mistress of Rome (The Empress of Rome, #1))
“
The door opens with a rusted jingle, and an animatronic Santa insults my moral virtue three times. Ho, ho, ho.
”
”
Kiersten White (My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories)
“
I stuff another handful of Raisinets in my mouth. What gets me is the 'pretty face' bit. 'Cause I won't mind being reminded I'm fat as long as you water it down first. Why not say, Hey I'm going to insult you, but first I will congratulate your fortunate genetics and appropriate appliclation of Bobbi Brown cosmetics to prevent you from hitting me. Sh*t; I kind of prefer being called a 'fat bitch.' At least it doesn't pull any punches.
”
”
Jen Lancaster (Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, or Why Pie Is Not the Answer)
“
He begged to know to which of his fair cousins the excellency of its cookery was owing.
Briefly forgetting her manners, Mary grabbed her fork and leapt from her chair onto the table. Lydia, who was seated nearest her, grabbed her ankle before she could dive at Mr. Collins and, presumably, stab him about the head and neck for such an insult.
”
”
Seth Grahame-Smith (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, #1))
“
I'll be supposed upon a book, his face is the worst thing about him.
”
”
William Shakespeare (Measure for Measure)
“
Don't let your teeth make you lose respect by permanently keeping them opened for the sake of being friendly.
”
”
Michael Bassey Johnson
“
You look absurd in that outfit."
"Absurdly dashing, I agree.
”
”
Leigh Bardugo (Rule of Wolves (King of Scars, #2))
“
How now, my sweet creature of bombast! How long is't ago, Jack, since thou saw'st thien own knee?
”
”
William Shakespeare (King Henry IV, Part 1)
“
Your wit never ceases to underwhelm me.
”
”
A. Kirk (Midnight Poison (The Paranormal Poisons Saga, #1))
“
You have two emotions—apathy and rage—and nothing in between.” Ellie wanted him to stop, but she could hear the truth in his words. She closed her eyes for his killing blow. “It’s like you’re not even a person. You’re an…organism.” “That’s not true.” Ellie forced her eyes open. “I am a person. I’m just not good at it.
”
”
S.G. Redling (Flowertown)
“
You’re a wild and disobedient girl with violence impulses who chafes at authority and your thin veneer of polished civility has all the transparency of a whore’s nightgown.
”
”
Nenia Campbell (Star Crossed (Shadow Thane, #4))
“
Captain Jibby looked at the door, clenched his teeth, and worked his face into a scowl so fierce you would think the door had insulted his mother - which, for the record, it had not.
”
”
Cuthbert Soup (Another Whole Nother Story (A Whole Nother Story))
“
The seer crow was outraged. "Mangiz does not forget an insult, hedgepig."
Ambrose smiled cheekily. "Good, then here's a few more for you to remember, you pot-bellied, cross-eyed, feather-bottomed excuse for a duck.
”
”
Brian Jacques (Mattimeo (Redwall, #3))
“
Go make love to a tube sock.
”
”
Nenia Campbell (Black Beast (Shadow Thane, #1))
“
Don't try to nice your way out of this. It's insulting.
”
”
Rachel Aaron (One Good Dragon Deserves Another (Heartstrikers, #2))
“
Sonia, every dog does not bite, nor does each bee sting. For each schoolmate who insults you, there must be fifty who do not. And for every Muslim terrorist, there are thousands of us who oppose violence. Tell those who are cruel to you that in their cruelty, they are the terror. Then inform them that they are forgiven, for such forgiveness may shame some toward kindness.
”
”
E.R. Frank (Life Is Funny)
“
And since when is stealing people's possessions the call of God? you are all hypocrites who have suddenly come into power, and you don't know how to handle it
”
”
Dalia Sofer (The Septembers of Shiraz)
“
She was my friend because she was kind and funny but she had a face like two oysters fused together in a Star Trek matter transporter accident.
”
”
Andrew Hinkinson (WOOF!)
“
An insult doesn’t have the intended impact when spelled incorrectly.
”
”
Amy Tintera (Listen for the Lie)
“
You know when you mix butt and Angel in the same sentence, it becomes an insult,” I say and take a big gulp from the can. With his back to me, he says, “Trust me, I would never dream of insulting your butt. I’m sure it’s better than anything I’m cooking out here.
”
”
Rucy Ban (All My Life (First Things, #1))
“
Who calls at Habetrot's chamber?' comes a whispery voice.
Oak raises his eyebrows at me, as though he intends me to answer.
Fine, if that's what he wants. 'Suren, whose garb has been deemed inadequate by an obnoxious prince, despite the fact I've seen people go naked to revels.'
Rather than be insulted, Oak laughs delightedly.
”
”
Holly Black (The Stolen Heir (The Stolen Heir Duology, #1))
“
Since when are you so 'faithful'? just a couple of years ago you would show up in your tight jeans and borrow our car to pick up one of your five girlfriends. You think that beard makes you a man of God?
”
”
Dalia Sofer (The Septembers of Shiraz)
“
He’s unrepentant,' McClane pronounced, 'and insulting. And possibly suicidal. Can we kick him in the face?
”
”
J. Fally (Bone Rider)
“
I do not understand this man," [Tempi] said. "Is he attempting to buy sex with me? Or does he wish to fight?
”
”
Patrick Rothfuss (The Wise Man’s Fear (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #2))
“
I said you are a bastard and not fit to sit that fancy horse."
"Did you hear that, Punchline? He called you fancy.
”
”
Leigh Bardugo (Rule of Wolves (King of Scars, #2))
“
You’re so ugly… you don’t need birth control, your face scares everyone.
”
”
Various (100+ Insults: Funny Insults, Comedy, and Humor!)
“
What?” Richardson snarled. “No smart retort, Mr. Gautier? Cat swallow your tongue?”
Nick gave her a charming grin he didn’t really feel. “No, ma’am. A gator named Sense Formerly Known as Common.”
Sneering at him, she tottered her way to her desk so that she could insult someone else and ruin their day.
Caleb let out an annoyed breath. -Great,- he projected to Nick. -Now I have to get detention, too. I really hate you, Gautier.-
Nick batted his eyelashes at Caleb. -But I wubs you, Caliboo.-
That succeeded in wringing a groan out of Caleb.
“What was that, Mr. Malphas?” Richardson asked.
“Severe intestinal woe caused by an external hemorrhoid that seems to be growing on my right-hand side.” He cast a meaningful glower toward Nick.
The class erupted into laughter as Richardson shot to her feet. “Enough!” She slammed her hands on her desk. “For that, Mr. Malphas, you can join Mr. Gautier in after-school detention.”
Caleb let out an irritated sigh. --More quality time with my hemorrhoid. Just what I wanted for Christmas. Yippee ki-yay.--
”
”
Sherrilyn Kenyon (Instinct (Chronicles of Nick, #6))
“
I've seen rocks that fly almost as well as you do - I could drop one in your seat, paint the head blue, and at least I'd stop getting lip!
”
”
Brandon Sanderson (Skyward (Skyward, #1))
“
I try very hard to be annoying! Don't insult my ability to annoy!
”
”
Rick Riordan
“
Yeah, and she’s really screwed up, as screwed up as me, but I don’t look at that as an insult. I look at that as a chance to connect.
”
”
Ned Vizzini (It's Kind of a Funny Story)
“
Are ye ta'en with the swindle or the turn-sickness? Or are ye out of your wits?
”
”
E.R. Eddison (The Worm Ouroboros)
“
A joke sounds like a joke.
An insult sounds like an insult.
Most people, nowadays, trying to be funny, smuggle insult into jokes.
”
”
Michael Bassey Johnson (The Book of Maxims, Poems and Anecdotes)
“
YOU! You're boring! You're not even good enough for a good insult! You're in the one place Where magic is always real! Part the seas if you want! Rain down ink and blood! Transform! Fly! You're not allowed to spend the rest of your life panicking! You've got to give something back if you want to get out of here!"
What? What?? What do I give?"
You've got stories in there, I know, I can smell 'em--"
Stoppit, stoppit! I don't! I can't tell a story to save my life!"
Funny you should put it that way.
”
”
Carla Speed McNeil
“
You're supposed to be a spirit of intellect. I don't understand why you're obsessed with sex."
Bob's voice got defensive. "It's an academic interest, Harry."
"Oh yeah? Well maybe I don't think it's fair to let your academia go peeping in other people's houses."
"Wait a minute. My academia doesn't just peep -"
I held up a hand. "Save it. I don't want to hear it."
He grunted. "You're trivializing what getting out for a bit means to me, Harry. You're insulting my masculinity."
"Bob," I said, "you're a skull . You don't have any masculinity to insult."
"Oh yeah?" Bob challenged me. "Pot kettle black, Harry! Have you gotten a date yet? Huh? Most men have something better to do in the middle of the night than play with their chemistry sets.
”
”
Jim Butcher (Storm Front (The Dresden Files, #1))
“
What did they say?" Juni asks me over the cafeteria table. "I didn't catch whatever profoundly unnecessary insult it was."
"Ho-livia," I explain over the chatter echoing off the cafeteria ceiling. "It's funny, because ho means whore and also rhymes with the first syllable of my name. Ha-ha. Excellent joke.
”
”
Riley Redgate (Seven Ways We Lie)
“
Did it ever occur to either of you that maybe MAC doesn't need protecting? That maybe MAC finds your he-man acts both insulting and chauvinistic? In case you haven't noticed, MAC is pretty good at taking care of herself. "
Kyle cleared his throat. He looked exhausted and wary.
"Why are you talking about yourself in the Thrid Person?
”
”
Kathleen Peacock (Hemlock (Hemlock, #1))
“
First of all, never call a mermaid a fish unless you’re trying to insult her
”
”
Tiana Warner (Ice Kingdom (Mermaids of Eriana Kwai, #3))
“
When the thing did not explode, Polybotes bent down cautiously and picked it up.
He roared in outrage. "A Ding Dong? You dare insult me with a Ding Dong?
”
”
Rick Riordan (The Son of Neptune (The Heroes of Olympus, #2))
“
Keep flapping your lips and you'll spend the rest of your afterlife haunting hipsters at Starbucks.
”
”
Sherry D Ficklin
“
The poorly sophisticated, since many of us are, as presumed to be, lacking in good arguments, we are then prone to being well-versed in insults.
”
”
Criss Jami (Healology)
“
Tant qu'on fait rire, c'est des plaisanteries. Dès que c'est pas drôle, c'est des insultes.
It's a joke as long as people are laughing. If it's not funny, it's an insult.
”
”
Coluche
“
You are earnest and talented, tenacious and funny. I would never insult you by calling you something as generic as nice.
”
”
Lyla Sage (Swift and Saddled (Rebel Blue Ranch, #2))
“
The priest DID have it coming, though," Lelldorin declared hotly.
"What priest?"
"The priest of Chaldan at that little chapel who wouldn't marry us because Arianna couldn't give him a document proving she had her family's consent. He was very insulting."
"Did you break anything?"
"A few of his teeth is about all-- and I stopped hitting him as soon as he agreed to perform the ceremony.
”
”
David Eddings (Castle of Wizardry (The Belgariad #4))
“
Rubbish," he said. "Firstly, stop talking as if you did anything but what I wanted. Secondly--well, you're a slippery bastard, granted. You've made plenty of mistakes and done a lot of bad things and told an incredible number of lies. You're an utter shit. Sorry, what was I saying? I got carried away.
”
”
K.J. Charles (The Sugared Game (The Will Darling Adventures, #2))
“
You slutty, little whore.” Her lips twisted cruelly. The sun hit her eyes and reflected a flaming red color, her pupils narrowing.I should have been terrified, but instead I just felt exhausted and really, really annoyed. I took a deep breath, anger wrapping around my muscles.I was done—so done—with this bullshit. I strode towards her.“Little?” I said. “If you’re going to insult me, at least make me a big, slutty whore. Little makes me sound so incompetent.
”
”
Stacey Marie Brown
“
Because I kissed you? Seriously? You only like me because I’m a good kisser? That’s it. We’re not doing this. I’m not letting you risk your life just
because you can’t think with your upstairs brain.”
“No, you twit.” Ryan laughed. “Because you kissed me that day. I expected the ice queen and got a funny, go-with-the-flow girl that didn’t care what
anyone thought about her. A girl willing to stir up gossip just so that I could win a date with someone else.
“You didn’t have to help me. In fact, you probably should have been insulted, but you weren’t.
You kissed me, you smiled, and then you wished me good luck. No one’s ever surprised me like that. I couldn’t figure out why you did it, and I just
had to get to know you after that.” I had no idea that stupid kiss had that kind of effect on him. Charged him up like a battery, sure, but do all that? All
this time I really thought it was just the superkissing that kept him coming back. I looked down at my lunch, feeling a little ashamed of my lack of faith
in him, but Ryan couldn’t stop there.
Oh, no, not Ryan Miller.
“After that day, every time I was with you I got brief glimpses of the real Jamie, the one who is dying to break out, and she was this fun, relaxed,
smart, funny, caring girl. Finding out the truth about you only made you that much more incredible. You’re so strong. You’ve gone through so much,
you’re going through so much, but you never stop trying. You’re amazing.” I was surprised when I felt Ryan’s hand lift my chin up. I didn’t want to look
at him, I knew what would happen to my heart if I did, but I couldn’t stop myself. I craved him too much.
When we made eye contact, his face lit up and he whispered, “I love you, Jamie Baker.” It came out of nowhere, and it stole the breath from me,
leaving me speechless. Ryan stared at me, just waiting for some kind of reaction, and then I was the one who broke the no-kissing rule.
It wasn’t my fault. He totally cheated! Like anyone could resist Ryan Miller when he’s touching your face and saying he loves you?
I threw myself at him so fast that I startled him for a change, and he was the one who had to pull me off him when his hair started to stick up.
“Sorry,” I breathed as he pulled away.
“Don’t be sorry,” he teased. “Just stop.”
“Sorry,” I said again when I noticed that his leg was now bouncing under the table.
“Yeah. Looks like I don’t get to sleep through economics today.”
“On the bright side, Coach could make you run laps all practice long and you’d be fine.
”
”
Kelly Oram (Being Jamie Baker (Jamie Baker, #1))
“
I thought the two ugly ones, Marty and Laverne, were sisters, but they got very insulted when I asked them. You could tell neither one of them wanted to look like the other one, and you couldn't blame them, but it was very amusing anyway.
”
”
J.D. Salinger (The Catcher in the Rye)
“
It seems that along the Rhine front the French broadcast some recordings which the Germans say constituted a personal insult to the Führer. “The French did not realize,” says the DNB with that complete lack of humour which makes the Germans so funny,
”
”
William L. Shirer (Berlin Diary: The Journal of a Foreign Correspondent 1934-41)
“
It is now obvious to us all that he has every objection," said Randall. "You know, you had very much better withdraw, my dear aunt. I feel sure that Uncle Henry's double life is going to be exposed. My own conviction is that he has been keeping a mistress for years."
[...]
Mrs. Lupton flushed. "You forget yourself, Randall. I am not going to stand here and see my husband insulted by your ill-bred notions of what is funny."
"Oh, I wasn't insulting him," said Randall. "Why shouldn't he have a mistress? I am inclined to think that in his place -as your spouse, my dear Aunt Gertrude- I should have several.
”
”
Georgette Heyer (Behold, Here's Poison)
“
You’re so dumb… you stole a free sample!
”
”
Various (100+ Insults: Funny Insults, Comedy, and Humor!)
“
This guy was making me tired. “Thanks for the afternoon’s entertainment,” I said. “I’ll flush a copy of my bill down the toilet. You should be getting it in a couple of days.
”
”
John Swartzwelder (The Time Machine Did It)
“
You have a mind like the rings of Saturn. A million miles wide and an inch deep.
”
”
Kim Stanley Robinson
“
You should stay and keep me company, so I don't get lonely.”
“You don't seem like the type of guy who gets lonely.”
“Is that a compliment or an insult?”
Analia only shrugged.
”
”
Kiersten Fay (Demon Possession (Shadow Quest, #1))
“
You couldn't find your dick in the dark, you scheming, sleaze-mongering scumwad.
”
”
Nenia Campbell (Touched with Sight (Shadow Thane, #2))
“
Do you know why the number two hundred is so vitally descriptive to both you and me? It’s your weight and my I.Q.
”
”
Lex Luthor, Gene Hackman
“
That Stage in Friendship when you can start Insulting them.
”
”
Tracey Becker
“
It pisses me off that you allow something so trivial to define such a huge part of you. I can’t make you pretty in this book, because that would be an insult. You’re fucking beautiful. And you’re funny. And the only times I’m not completely enamored by you are the moments you’re feeling sorry for yourself. Because I don’t know if you’ve realized this yet, but you’re alive, Fallon. And every time you look in the mirror, you don’t have the right to hate what you see. Because you survived when a lot of people don’t get that lucky. So from now on when you think about your scars, you aren’t allowed to resent them. You’re going to embrace them, because you’re lucky to be on this earth to see them. And any guy you allow to touch your scars better thank you for that privilege.
”
”
Colleen Hoover (November 9)
“
Oh come now," Bast reproached, his smile falling away. "That's just insulting."
"By earth and stone, I abjure you!" Kote dipped his fingers into the cup by his side and flicked droplets
casually in Bast's direction. "Glamour be banished!"
"With cider?" Bast managed to look amused and annoyed at the same time as he daubed a bead of liquid
from the front of his shirt. "This better not stain.
”
”
Patrick Rothfuss (The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1))
“
What was the point of having a man if all he could do was turn his back and sleep? Not that she wanted him to do anything else, but in a way it was an insult. The turned back reminded her of all the various backs that had not been turned. Which was a depressing thought, because it meant she was beginning to live in the past.
Backs That Were Never Turned. The Reminisces of Maria Delaney...No, it was not depressing. It was funny.
”
”
Daphne du Maurier (The Parasites)
“
He was a bad, bad bastard. He abused the privilege of being a cunt, as my old Da would say.’ I smiled, picturing the cozy fireside scene of young son on father’s knee being inducted into the world of abusive epithets.
”
”
Craig Russell (The Long Glasgow Kiss (Lennox, #2))
“
You can't hold someone who
Wants to leave
You can't clutch a memory
As if it were today
You can't take an insult
Close to heart
You can't grasp for glory
From your chair
You can't seize life
Thinking only of loss
And you can't grab a laser pointer dot
On the wall
No matter how much you try
These hard-earned truths I give to you
”
”
Francesco Marciuliano (I Could Pee on This: and Other Poems by Cats)
“
হোটেলের মালিক বললেন, সাগরের হাওয়ায় মশা থাকে না, মশারি লাগবে না। তার কথায় বিশ্বাস করে ঘুমুতে গেলাম।দেখা গেল, মশা শুধু যে আছে তাই না, প্রবলভাবেই আছে। সমুদ্রের স্বাস্থ্যকর হাওয়ার কারণে মশারা সবাই স্বাস্থ্যবতী।স্বাস্থ্যবতীরা ঝাঁক বেঁধে এসে আমাকে কামড়াতে লাগল। স্বাস্থ্যবতী মশা বলার উদ্দেশ্য, স্ত্রী মশারাই মানুষের রক্ত খায়, পুরুষরা না। তসলিমা নাসরিন আবার যেন মনে না করে বসেন যে, আমি মহিলা মশাদের ছোট করার জন্য এই কথা লিখছি। এটা একটা বৈজ্ঞানিক সত্য।
”
”
Humayun Ahmed (সকল কাঁটা ধন্য করে)
“
You'll want something mid-range. A 5.56 all right?"
"I suppose."
"AR-15?"
"Ugh. AR-15? I'd rather not have my gun break down on me every second week." Besides, every wannabe and their dog had an M16 or M4 variant these days.
"G7."
"Not accurate enough."
"FAL?"
"A 7.62? Maybe," I said. "Though I hate the triggers."
"As picky as a woman with her shoes," Abraham grumbled.
"Hey," I said. "That's insulting." I knew plenty of women who were pickier with their guns than they were with their shoes.
”
”
Brandon Sanderson (Firefight (The Reckoners, #2))
“
I was thinking we could get a picture of you holding a pitchfork or something. Maybe a big wooden cross? Sound good?"(Brian)
She stared at him. He lifted his hands and leaned back in his seat, as if he was afraid she might start spitting on him. "Hey, only joking."
"Very funny."
"Oh, I do love jokes." Greyson Dante stood by her side.
"Hello, Mr. Dante. I'm afraid this is a private conversation, so you will, of course, be going now."
His grin widened. Was there no way to insult the man?
”
”
Stacia Kane (Personal Demons (Megan Chase, #1))
“
What do you want?' I ask, digging in my pockets. I take out the swan-shaped scissors I stole from Habetrot. 'These are pretty.'
'Put them away,' he scoffs. 'It would be an insult to be stabbed by those.'
'Then do not court that fate,' I growl softly...
”
”
Holly Black (The Stolen Heir (The Stolen Heir Duology, #1))
“
It's funny how, when you really want to say something bitchy and cutting to someone who's been bitchy to you, you can't think of anything till afterwards. When there's no real call for it, you come suddenly out with a piece of 9-carat bitchery that shakes even you.
”
”
Lynne Reid Banks
“
There are things I've given up on
Like recording funny answering machine messages.
It's part of growing older
And the human race as a group has matured along the same lines.
It seems our comedy dates the quickest.
If you laugh out loud at Shakespeare's jokes
I hope you won't be insulted
if I say you're trying too hard.
Even sketches from the original Saturday Night Live
seem slow-witted and obvious now.
”
”
David Berman
“
So…you're not going to tell me what they mean? C'mon. What's the Hob? Why Forks?”
When I stand, I switch to my blatantly rude, you're-an-idiot tone. This is the one that always pisses off my mom. To be sure he's not missing my insult this time, I also cross my arms and speak very slowly like I'm speaking to a toddler. “The Hob is from The Hunger Games books. It's the underground market where the characters trade food and information. Forks would be the town in Twilight. The setting. In boy-speak, Forks equals the planet Tatooine for Star Wars. You know—Anakin Skywalker's childhood home? Or are you not familiar with any global blockbusters? I suppose I could use Sesame Street or Pokémon for a reference—if it would help you understand better?”
Bam. That should seal it. I couldn't have sounded more like a total bitch.
He nods. “No, I've got it. My bedroom was Tatooine for all of third and fourth grade. Boy-speak…that's funny.” He laughs again, and it sounds warm and—and—not at all offended!
”
”
Anne Eliot (Almost)
“
The world was less forgiving of its fat, ugly women. I knew that from firsthand experience. At best, people ignored you. At worst, they insulted you. Your existence was barely tolerated. By virtue of your looks, you had nothing to offer. It didn't matter if you were smart, thoughtful, or funny - no one listened. No one cared.
”
”
Catherine Dang (Nice Girls)
“
Percy, you are dismissed from my service."
"Me? Why, my lord?"
"Why? Because, Percy, far from being a fit consort for a prince of the realm, you would bore the leggings off a village idiot. You ride a horse rather less well than another horse would. Your brain would make a grain of sand look large and ungainly, and the part of you that can't be mentioned, I am reliably informed by women around the court, wouldn't be worth mentioning even if it could be. If you put on a floppy hat and a funny codpiece, you might just get by as a fool, but since you wouldn't know a joke if it got up and gave you a haircut, I doubt it. That's why you're dismissed."
"Oh, I see."
"And as for you, Baldrick..."
"Yes."
"You're out, too.
”
”
Richard Curtis (Blackadder: The Whole Damn Dynasty, 1485-1917)
“
Drunk or not, Niall caught the insult. “Lass, I promise ye what hides under me kilt is anything but funny.” “You’re right. Anything that hasn’t bathed in decades is probably more likely to send a woman screaming. Or fainting from the smell.” “Why you little harpy.” Incredulous, he could only stare at her while she smirked. “Ah, have we reached the point of pet names? How sweet. I was thinking of dung beetle for you.
”
”
Eve Langlais (A Demon and Her Scot (Welcome to Hell, #3))
“
Priss tried to open her door, but it still didn’t budge. “Unlock it.”
Instead he pulled her around to face him. He started to blast her, but something funny happening. Instead of reading her the riot act, he stared into her eyes, then down at her mouth. His entire demeanor changed. He looked just as tense, but now for different, hotter reasons.
He still stared intently at her mouth when Priss heard the lock click open. She glanced down and saw that Trace had reached back for the door, all without breaking that disturbing, electrifying visual contact with her.
She met his gaze again, and softened. Damn, but resisting Trace wouldn’t be easy, not if he kept looking at her like that. “You’re coming in, too?”
“Yes.” Suddenly, almost violently, he turned away from her and left the car. Still a gentleman, he strode around to her side and opened her door. “Let’s get this night over with.”
Well. That sounded insulting.
”
”
Lori Foster (Trace of Fever (Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor, #2))
“
Kai whirled around and his face was sadowed by the angle of the sun. Still, she knew his tone. Anger. “What’s so funny? That our project has been set back several says? That we’re stuck here longer? That you take a little spill from a horse and everyone wants to rearrange the world so you don’t suffer a moment of inconvenience?”
“No,” she said, and her voice was even. “That I would wait a month in agony just to hear you insult me. I’m a miserable girl indeed, don’t you think?
”
”
Diana Peterfreund
“
THE UNOFFICIAL AND UNWRITTEN
(but you better follow them or you’re going to get beaten twice as hard)
SPOKANE INDIAN RULES OF FISTICUFFS:
1. IF SOMEBODY INSULTS YOU, THEN YOU HAVE TO FIGHT HIM.
2. IF YOU THINK SOMEBODY IS GOING TO INSULT YOU, THEN YOU HAVE TO FIGHT HIM.
3. IF YOU THINK SOMEBODY IS THINKING ABOUT INSULTING YOU, THEN YOU HAVE TO FIGHT HIM.
4. IF SOMEBODY INSULTS ANY OF YOUR FAMILY OR FRIENDS, OR IF YOU THINK THEY’RE GOING TO INSULT YOUR FAMILY OR FRIENDS, OR IF YOU THINK THEY’RE THINKING ABOUT INSULTING YOUR FAMILY OR FRIENDS, THEN YOU HAVE TO FIGHT HIM.
5. YOU SHOULD NEVER FIGHT A GIRL, UNLESS SHE INSULTS YOU, YOUR FAMILY, OR YOUR FRIENDS, THEN YOU HAVE TO FIGHT HER.
6. IF SOMEBODY BEATS UP YOUR FATHER OR YOUR MOTHER, THEN YOU HAVE TO FIGHT THE SON AND/OR DAUGHTER OF THE PERSON WHO BEAT UP YOUR MOTHER OR FATHER.
7. IF YOUR MOTHER OR FATHER BEATS UP SOMEBODY, THEN THAT PERSON’S SON AND/OR DAUGHTER WILL FIGHT YOU.
8. YOU MUST ALWAYS PICK FIGHTS WITH THE SONS AND/OR DAUGHTERS OF ANY INDIANS WHO WORK FOR THE BUREA OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.
9. YOU MUST ALWAYS PICK FIGHTS WITH THE SONS AND/OR DAUGHTERS OF ANY WHITE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ANYWHERE ON THE RESERVATION.
10. IF YOU GET IN A FIGHT WITH SOMEBODY WHO IS SURE TO BEAT YOU UP, THEN YOU MUST THROW THE FIRST PUNCH, BECAUSE IT’S THE ONLY PUNCH YOU’LL EVER GET TO THROW.
11. IN ANY FIGHT, THE LOSER IS THE FIRST ONE WHO CRIES.
”
”
Sherman Alexie (The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian)
“
People always ask me how I got funny. The short answer is: I had to figure out a way to be liked. The long answer is more complicated because humor also developed as a survival mechanism to protect myself and disarm or intimidate people when I didn’t feel safe, to make fun of myself before other people could, to avoid having to feel sadness, or to mitigate the gravity of a situation because laughter was my anesthetic for pain. Also, my last name is Cummings, so as you can probably imagine, I had to learn to defend myself from insults pretty early on in life.
”
”
Whitney Cummings (I'm Fine...And Other Lies)
“
He could not consent to allow himself to be insulted, still less to allow himself to be treated as a rag, and, above all, to allow a thoroughly vicious man to treat him so. No quarrelling, however, no quarrelling! Possibly if some one wanted, if some one, for instance, actually insisted on turning Mr. Golyadkin into a rag, he might have done so, might have done so without opposition or punishment (Mr. Golyadkin was himself conscious of this at times), and he would have been a rag and not Golyadkin - yes, a nasty, filthy rag; but that rag would not have been a simple rag, it would have been a rag possessed of dignity, it would have been a rag possessed of feelings and sentiments, even though dignity was defenceless and feelings could not assert themselves, and lay hidden deep down in the filthy folds of the rag, still the feelings there...
”
”
Fyodor Dostoevsky (The Double)
“
Yes. Let’s be honest. I’m a privileged white woman who left her kids in a $30,000 minivan watching Dora the Explorer to go in for a Starbucks. Is there any clearer picture of privilege than that? But no matter what color you are, no matter how much money you have, you don’t deserve to be harassed for making a rational parenting choice.”
It’s funny, but in all the time that had passed, I had never thought about what was happening in quite those terms—as harassment. When a person intimidates, insults, verbally abuses, or demeans a woman on the street, in the bedroom, at the office, in the classroom, it’s harassment. When a woman is intimidated or insulted or abused because of the way she dresses or her sexual habits or her outspokenness on social media, she is experiencing harassment. But when a mother is intimidated, insulted, abused, or demeaned because of the way she is mothering, we call it concern or, at worst, nosiness. A mother, apparently, cannot be harassed. A mother can only be corrected.
”
”
Kim Brooks (Small Animals: Parenthood in the Age of Fear)
“
Zeke was cleared by the Candor an hour ago, in a short interrogation on the eighteenth floor. It was not as somber an occasion as Tobias’s and my interrogation, partly because there was no suspicious video footage implicating Zeke, and partly because Zeke is funny even when under truth serum. Maybe especially so. In any case, we came to the Gathering Place “for a ‘Hey, you’re not a dirty traitor!’ celebration,” as Uriah put it.
“Yeah, but we’ve been insulting you since the simulation attack,” Lynn says. “And now I feel like a jerk about it.”
Zeke puts his arm around Shauna. “You are a jerk, Lynn. It’s part of your charm.”
Lynn launches a plastic cup at him, which he deflects. Water sprays over the table, hitting him in the eye.
“Anyway, as I was saying,” says Zeke, rubbing his eye, “I was mostly working on getting Erudite defectors out safely.
”
”
Veronica Roth (Insurgent (Divergent, #2))
“
I would fall in love with someone’s potential rather than with who they actually were. I’d walk in, find a guy who was smart and funny but a complete mess, and light up like a talent agent from the 1950s. I’d think to myself, “This kid’s gonna be a star!” I’d take on a guy the way Michelle Pfeiffer took on the punk-ass kids from Dangerous Minds, seeing the best in them and pushing them to be better. And also like Michelle Pfeiffer in Dangerous Minds, I had to teach a couple of guys how to read. Of course, this dynamic caused my relationships to feel maternal, making my partner resent me and making sex feel like incest. To add insult to injury, I basically ended up coaching a guy to be the best he can be for the next girl who came along. To anyone dating my exes, you’re welcome for getting them together so you could have the perfect boyfriend. Love you, girl.
”
”
Whitney Cummings (I'm Fine...And Other Lies)
“
Dating yes. But she thinks we're, uh, more than dating."
"Oh," he says, thoughtful. Then he grins. "Oh." The reason her lips are turning his favorite color is because Emma's mom thinks they've been dating and mating. The blush extends down her neck and disappears into her T-shirt. He should probably say something to make her feel more comfortable. But teasing her seems so much more fun. "Well then, the least she could do is give us some privacy-"
"Ohmysweetgoodness!" She snatches her backpack from the seat and marches around her car to the driver's side. Before she can get the door unlocked, he plucks the key from her fingers and tucks it into his jeans' pocket. She moves to retrieve it, but stops when she realizes where she's about to go fishing.
He's never seen her this red. He laughs. "Calm down, Emma. I'm just kidding. Don't leave."
"Yeah, well, it's not funny. You should have seen her this morning. She almost cried. my mom doesn't cry." She crosses her arms again but relaxes against her door.
"She cried? That's pretty insulting."
She cracks a tiny grin. "Yeah, it's an insult to me. She thinks I would...would..."
"More than date me?"
She nods.
He steps toward her and puts his hand beside her on the car, leaning in. A live current seems to shimmy up his spine. What are you doing? "But she should know that you don't even think of me like that. That it would never even cross your mind," he murmurs. She looks away, satisfying his unspoken question-it has crossed her mind. The same way it crosses his. How often? Does she feel the voltage between them, too? Who cares, idiot? She belongs to Grom. Or are you going to let a few sparks keep you from uniting the kingdoms?
He pulls back, clenching his teeth. His pockets are the only safe place for his hands at the moment. "Why don't I meet her then? You think that would make her feel better?"
"Um." She swipes her hair to the other side of her face. Her expression falls somewhere between shock and expectation. And she had every right to expect it-he's been entertaining the idea of kissing her for over two weeks now. She fidgets the door handle. "Yeah, it might. She won't let me go anywhere-especially with you-if she doesn't meet you first."
"Should I be afraid?"
She sighs. "Normally I would say no. But after this morning..." She shrugs.
"How about I follow you to your house so you can drop off your car? Then she can interrogate me. When she sees how charming I am, she'll let you ride to the beach with me."
She rolls her eyes. "Just don't be too charming. If you're too smooth, she'll never believe-just don't overdue it, okay?"
"This is getting complicated," he says, unlocking her car.
"Just remember, this is your idea and your fault. Now would be the time to back out."
He chuckles and opens the door for her. "Don't lose me on the road.
”
”
Anna Banks (Of Poseidon (The Syrena Legacy, #1))
“
Tell me one thing. Has Rider Sinclair done something to hurt you in any way? If he has,I'll shoot that man!"
Willow was taken aback by Miriam's vehemence. "No,no," she hastily assured. "He might have hurt my feelings some but that's all."
"I noticed he wasn't being very gentlemanly, but I overlooked it because I thought perhaps he was still showing his temper over the Scofield incident."
"You're probably right. But, Miriam, this ain't, er,isn't about Sinclair, not entirely anyway. It's about me." Willow's smile was sad. "Being a man would be easier and a hell of a lot more fun but I ain't built right. So, I want you to teach me how to look and act like a fine and proper lady. You will, won't you?"
Merry chuckles bubbled and rolled out of Miriam. "Oh, Willow!" More chuckles. "I know I shouldn't laugh right now, but I can't help myself. You say the most awful things!"
Willow didn't know if she should be insulted or not, but since it was Miriam laughing at her, she gave her the benefit of the doubt. "I know my wanting to be a real lady is funny, but not that funny."
"No,no." Miriam laughed, gasping for breath. "No that, the part about you're not being built right.
”
”
Charlotte McPherren (Song of the Willow)