What crossgrained fiend has at once inspired you with what I suppose you wish me to call politic doubts and scruples of conscience, but which I can only regard as symptoms of fear and disaffection? ❋ Unknown (2008)
He was, I admit, wild; but never such a crossgrained fellow as yourself; and yet he too had his daily dose of the whip. ❋ Unknown (2003)
We do not like to see him become crossgrained, mean in disposition and stony hearted. ❋ Charles Herbert Sylvester (N/A)
In making plywood the inside sheets are placed crossgrained with the face sheets. ❋ W.B. Laughead (N/A)
I was too ruffled and crossgrained to talk to him, but I could not keep myself from watching him. ❋ Alice Prescott Smith (N/A)
"I am rather crossgrained when I am not well pleased." ❋ Unknown (N/A)
By rights and logically he ought to fall into rank with the rest of the gods; but there is a crossgrained element in his nature which keeps him out. ❋ Lionel D. Barnett (N/A)
She had an ideal of fatherhood, had gentle, silent, useless Lydia -- formed upon the genial, sunshiny type of parent popular in books, and she cast a romantic veil over disappointed, selfish, crossgrained Malcolm ❋ Kathleen Thompson Norris (1923)
Does that satisfy you, you crossgrained old shellfish? ❋ Joseph Crosby Lincoln (1907)
These are grounds for believing that legislators, while exhorting to virtue and putting certain courses of conduct forward as right and honourable, in the expectation that good men will obey the call, as their habits lead them, should at the same time inflict chastisements and punishments upon the crossgrained and disobedient; and as for the incurably vicious, put them beyond the pale altogether. ❋ Joseph Rickaby (1888)
For want of self-restraint, many men are engaged all their lives in fighting with difficulties of their own making, and rendering success impossible by their own crossgrained ungentleness; whilst others, it may be much less gifted, make their way and achieve success by simple patience, equanimity, and self-control. ❋ Samuel Smiles (1858)
My readers will not, I think, be so crossgrained with me as to suppose that I am putting Thackeray as a master of style above Shakespeare. ❋ Anthony Trollope (1848)
We had a crossgrained sort of choice left us, which was to be found, to be drawn, and go for nothing -- or take on as volunteers for the bounty of two guineas. ❋ John Clare (1828)
On the other hand, when spoiled by the indulgence or indolence of their superiors, they were very apt to become ill-tempered, self-sufficient, and tyrannical; so much so, that a mistress or master would sometimes almost have wished to exchange their crossgrained fidelity for the smooth and accommodating duplicity of a modern menial. ❋ Walter Scott (1801)
7 On the other hand, when spoiled by the indulgence or indolence of their superiors, they were very apt to become ill-tempered, self-sufficient, and tyrannical; so much so, that a mistress or master would sometimes almost have wished to exchange their crossgrained fidelity for the smooth and accommodating duplicity of a modern menial. ❋ Unknown (2004)
“But whatever it is, a hundred thousand thanks, old fellow,” says Mrs. Bagnet, her eyes sparkling with pleasure and her hand stretched out to him; “and though I have been a crossgrained soldier’s wife to you sometimes, George, we are as strong friends, I am sure, in reality, as ever can be. ❋ Unknown (2007)
"Martin," said Barney, as he lay smoking his pipe, "'tis a pity that there's no pleasure in this world without _something_ crossgrained into it. ❋ Unknown (1859)
