Cowardly

Examples

• Think you, Tars Tarkas, that John Carter will fly at the first shriek of a cowardly foe who dare not come out into the open and face a good blade? Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
• Often as not they disguise it under heroic phrases and still louder affirmation, just as most of us hide our cowardly submission to monotony under some word like duty, loyalty, conscience. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
• I would not buy hope of immunity by so cowardly a desire even if I hated him. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
• I have borne long with self-reproach that would have roused any mind less torpid and cowardly than mine. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
• Mr Headstone,' returned Lizzie, with a burning face, 'it is cowardly in you to speak to me in this way. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
• But there are nations so cowardly that they dare not merely conquer their enemies; they must _mak siccar_ and destroy them. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
• Surely the men were stupid and ridiculous and cowardly. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
• I was standing close beside Xodar as Thurid swung his foot for the cowardly kick. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
• With a cry of rage I turned to meet the cowardly beasts, but as I advanced they retreated as had their fellow. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
• She knew that his very reserve had originated in a tenderness for her, which might be cowardly, but was not unfeeling. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
• It seems a cowardly surprise, to surprise me into letting you kiss me. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
• Born to be hanged, more like, said Maurice viciously, hardly able to conceal his dislike of this heartless, cowardly, beautiful animal before him. Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
• The cowardly swine. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
• Tell Mr. Osborne it is a cowardly letter, sir--a cowardly letter--I will not answer it. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
• They are strong and hardy, but of a cowardly spirit, and, by consequence, insolent, abject, and cruel. Jonathan Swift. Gulliver's Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World.
• She had been cowardly and false, and had shown her cowardliness and falsehood in action that could not be recalled; but she was not ungrateful. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
• It is not cowardly to know what is foolish. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
• I think it would be almost cowardly and cruel not to have some little attachment for it, after all this. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
• Then the cowardly and mean nature has no part in true philosophy? Plato. The Republic.
• In a word, I was too cowardly to do what I knew to be right, as I had been too cowardly to avoid doing what I knew to be wrong. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
• This cowardly slave of a slave is to serve you well, he said to me, indicating Xodar with a wave of his hand. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
• Hope not to save thy cowardly carcass by inventing horrid lies to-- But he got no further. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
• Neither is it foolish to know what is cowardly, said Anselmo, unable to resist making the phrase. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
• Jane has refused to leave the house, cowardly woman! Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
• They are cold--they are cowardly--they are stupid on the subject, Shirley! Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
• He has to pick his way between cowardly evasion on the one hand, and partisanship on the other. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
• It seems a cowardly experiment, to try an experiment on my weakness for you. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
• Ah, the cowardly dogs! Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
• And the inharmonious is cowardly and boorish? Plato. The Republic.
• Fate would not so be pacified; nor would Providence sanction this shrinking sloth and cowardly indolence. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.

Editor: Tess