“I hope this story provokes you as much as it provoked me to write it.”

“Why do you do that?” he whispered, after a few minutes.“Do what?”“Provoke me.”“I don’t…I…I’m not provoking you. I’m stating a fact.”“Nevertheless, it is extremely provocative. Every time I try to have a conversation with you like a normal person, you provoke me.”

“You admit you're doing this on purpose?""This?""This - provoking me.""Say 'provoking' again. Your mouth looks provocative when you do.”

“A good story should provoke discussion, debate, argument...and the occasional bar fight.”

“for men do easily part with their prince upon hopes of bettering their condition, and that hope provokes them to rebel; but most commonly they are mistaken, and experience tells them their condition is much worse.”

“I was very much provoked. Of course, I knew there are no fairies; but that needn't prevent my thinking there is.”