# Quotes about stubbornness - Quotes: 26 - Authors: 21 - Broader topic: [Quotes about character](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/character.md) - Topic page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness - JSON version (same data): https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.json ## Quotes > His will stands unmoved. The falling tears are futile. [Virgil](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil.md) · [The Aeneid](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil/the-aeneid.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil/the-aeneid/his-will-stands.md) Topics: [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md) > He stands immovable by tears, > > Nor tenderest words with pity hears. [Virgil](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil.md) · [The Aeneid](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil/the-aeneid.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil/the-aeneid/he-stands-immovable.md) Topics: [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md) > All men are liable to err; but when an error hath been made, that man is no longer witless or unblest who heals the ill into which he hath fallen, and remains not stubborn. [Sophocles](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sophocles.md) · [Antigone](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sophocles/antigone.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sophocles/antigone/all-men-are.md) Topics: [mistakes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/mistakes.md), [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md) > If some people hadn't felt obliged to repeat what is untrue simply because they had at one point maintained it, they would have turned into quite different people. [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://www.leafyquotes.com/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe.md) · [Maxims and Reflections](https://www.leafyquotes.com/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/maxims-and-reflections.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/maxims-and-reflections/if-some-people.md) Topics: [lies](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/lies.md), [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md) > Only the final choice would require a human decision: enter the Link, or decline to do so? It occurred to Chan that perhaps this was the choice that humans were least qualified to make. He recognized in himself the tendency to say, we’ve come so far, we can’t possibly change our minds now. People following that philosophy died climbing mountains, they signed disastrous contracts, they flew into hurricanes, and they embarked on lifelong commitments to the wrong mates. Perhaps they headed to the stars for the same reason. [Charles Sheffield](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield.md) · [The Spheres of Heaven](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield/the-spheres-of-heaven.md) · p. 231 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield/the-spheres-of-heaven/only-the-final.md) Topics: [choices](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/choices.md), [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md) > But somewhere along the way he had made up his mind and set it in concrete. Changed circumstances would not budge him. [Glen Cook](https://www.leafyquotes.com/glen-cook.md) · [Sweet Silver Blues](https://www.leafyquotes.com/glen-cook/sweet-silver-blues.md) · p. 60 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/glen-cook/sweet-silver-blues/but-somewhere-along.md) Topics: [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md) > There's a long league's worth of difference between willful and stupid. [George RR Martin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-rr-martin.md) · [A Storm of Swords](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-rr-martin/a-storm-of-swords.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-rr-martin/a-storm-of-swords/theres-a-long.md) Topics: [stupidity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stupidity.md), [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md) > Obsession is just what those too timorous to follow an idea through to its logical conclusion call determination. [Iain M. Banks](https://www.leafyquotes.com/iain-m-banks.md) · [The Hydrogen Sonata](https://www.leafyquotes.com/iain-m-banks/the-hydrogen-sonata.md) · p. 308 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/iain-m-banks/the-hydrogen-sonata/obsession-is-just.md) Topics: [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md), [obsession](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/obsession.md) > I beg to differ, as those who are right have always begged to differ from those who are wrong but refuse to admit it. [Iain M. Banks](https://www.leafyquotes.com/iain-m-banks.md) · [Surface Detail](https://www.leafyquotes.com/iain-m-banks/surface-detail.md) · p. 327 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/iain-m-banks/surface-detail/i-beg-to-differ.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md) > There is rarely an exception: once a cat makes up her mind to do something, your pleadings matter not at all. A dog, in the same circumstances, no matter how urgently he needs to do something, will change his mind if you insist. He is made for compromise, for self-sacrifice, for thinking about how you feel. Not cats. [Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jeffrey-moussaieff-masson.md) · [The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jeffrey-moussaieff-masson/the-nine-emotional-lives-of-cats.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jeffrey-moussaieff-masson/the-nine-emotional-lives-of-cats/there-is-rarely.md) Topics: [cats](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/cats.md), [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md) > Some people, though—some people think yelling something loud enough makes it so. [Harry Turtledove](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove.md) · [American Empire: Blood and Iron](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/american-empire-blood-and-iron.md) · p. 424 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/american-empire-blood-and-iron/some-people-though-some.md) Topics: [stupidity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stupidity.md), [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md) > You can’t get along with somebody who’s bound and determined not to get along with you. [Harry Turtledove](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove.md) · [American Empire: Blood and Iron](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/american-empire-blood-and-iron.md) · p. 388 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/american-empire-blood-and-iron/you-cant-get.md) Topics: [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md) > I am not especially wise, but I am especially stubborn. [Harry Turtledove](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove.md) · [Agent of Byzantium](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/agent-of-byzantium.md) · p. 101 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/agent-of-byzantium/i-am-not.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [wisdom](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/wisdom.md), [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md) > There is a class of person who cannot lead and will not be led. Such persons go their own way, uncorrupted by insight, unmitigated by experience. They do what they do, and usually they die of it, but they would rather die than cooperate with anyone else. [Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [Six Moon Dance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/six-moon-dance.md) · p. 418 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/six-moon-dance/there-is-a-class.md) Topics: [independence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/independence.md), [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md) > 'Tis known by the name of perseverance in a good cause — and of obstinacy in a bad one. [Laurence Sterne](https://www.leafyquotes.com/laurence-sterne.md) · [The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/laurence-sterne/the-life-and-opinions-of-tristram-shandy-gentleman.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/laurence-sterne/the-life-and-opinions-of-tristram-shandy-gentleman/tis-known-by-the.md) Topics: [perseverance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/perseverance.md), [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md) > When we’ve agreed that something ought to be done, or not done, we get very stubborn. And when that meets up with another stubbornness, it can make a kind of war, a struggle of ideas, the only kind of war anybody ever wins. [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin.md) · [The Eye of the Heron](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin/the-eye-of-the-heron.md) · p. 44 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin/the-eye-of-the-heron/when-weve-agreed.md) Topics: [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md) > One man's ways may be as good as another's, but we all like our own best. [Jane Austen](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen.md) · [Persuasion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen/persuasion.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen/persuasion/one-mans-ways.md) Topics: [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md) > We define boredom as the pain a person feels when he’s doing nothing or something irrelevant, instead of something he wants to do but won’t, can’t, or doesn’t dare. Boredom is acute when he knows the other thing and inhibits his action, e.g., out of politeness, embarrassment, fear of punishment or shame. Boredom is chronic if he has repressed the thought of it and no longer is aware of it. A large part of stupidity is just the chronic boredom, for a person can’t learn, or be intelligent about, what he’s not interested in, when his repressed thoughts are elsewhere. (Another large part of stupidity is stubbornness, unconsciously saying, “I won’t. You can’t make me.”) [Paul Goodman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-goodman.md) · [Growing Up Absurd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-goodman/growing-up-absurd.md) · p. 71 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-goodman/growing-up-absurd/we-define-boredom.md) Topics: [stupidity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stupidity.md), [boredom](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/boredom.md), [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md) > It is useless to talk with those who do not understand one and troublesome to talk with those who criticize from a feeling of superiority. Especially one-sided persons are troublesome. Few are accomplished in many arts and most cling narrowly to their own opinion. [Murasaki Shikibu](https://www.leafyquotes.com/murasaki-shikibu.md) · [The Diary of Lady Murasaki](https://www.leafyquotes.com/murasaki-shikibu/the-diary-of-lady-murasaki.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/murasaki-shikibu/the-diary-of-lady-murasaki/it-is-useless.md) Topics: [conversation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/conversation.md), [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md) > Obstinacy is a fault of temperament. Stubbornness and intolerance of contradiction result from a special kind of egotism, which elevates above everything else the pleasure of its autonomous intellect, to which others must bow. [Carl von Clausewitz](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-von-clausewitz.md) · [On War](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-von-clausewitz/on-war.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-von-clausewitz/on-war/obstinacy-is-a-fault.md) Topics: [selfishness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/selfishness.md), [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md) > Those who never back down love themselves more than they love the truth. [Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert.md) · [The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert/those-who-never.md) Topics: [truth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/truth.md), [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md) > Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo. [Virgil](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil.md) · [The Aeneid](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil/the-aeneid.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil/the-aeneid/flectere-si-nequeo.md) Topics: [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md) > Swerve me? The path to my fixed purpose is laid with iron rails, whereon my soul is grooved to run. Over unsounded gorges, through the rifled hearts of mountains, under torrents' beds, unerringly I rush! Naught's an obstacle, naught's an angle to the iron way! [Herman Melville](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herman-melville.md) · [Moby-Dick](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herman-melville/moby-dick.md) · p. 186 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herman-melville/moby-dick/swerve-me-the.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md), [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md), [obsession](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/obsession.md) > I am for the most part so convinced that everything is lacking in basis, consequence, justification, that if someone dared to contradict me, even the man I most admire, he would seem to me a charlatan or a fool. [Emil Cioran](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran.md) · [The Trouble With Being Born](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran/the-trouble-with-being-born.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran/the-trouble-with-being-born/i-am-for.md) Topics: [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md), [nihilism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/nihilism.md) > Like all weak men he laid an exaggerated stress on not changing one's mind. [William Somerset Maugham](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-somerset-maugham.md) · [Of Human Bondage](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-somerset-maugham/of-human-bondage.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-somerset-maugham/of-human-bondage/like-all-weak.md) Topics: [character](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/character.md), [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md) > I see that you will never agree. I cannot help that. I can only read the evidence. [Larry Niven](https://www.leafyquotes.com/larry-niven.md) · [Flatlander](https://www.leafyquotes.com/larry-niven/flatlander.md) · p. 43 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/larry-niven/flatlander/i-see-that.md) Topics: [evidence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/evidence.md), [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md)