provocatives

I posed these provocatives to the inmates at a correctional facility where I've taught English Composition, Public Speaking, and Political Science (American government) as part of a community college outreach program.

Joseph Cooper: Punishing September 11 Culprits: Some Inmates Weigh In 2009

I did not now enjoy a calm of reason enough to perceive, but ecstatically indeed! felt the policy and power of such rare and exquisite provocatives as the examples of the night had proved ....

How to Do the History of Pornography: Romantic Sexuality and its Field of Vision 2006

Antiquity held too light thoughts from objects of mortality, while some drew provocatives of mirth from anatomies, + and jugglers showed tricks with skeletons.

Hydriotaphia, or Urn-burial 2007

I walk and read a great deal, ride and scribble a little, according as my lead allows, or my spirits prompt; to write anything tolerable, the mind must be in a natural, proper disposition; provocatives, in that case, as well as in another, will only produce miserable, abortive performances.

Letters to his son on The Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman 2005

The whisky toddy had in that instance brought out truth and not falsehood as is ever the nature of whisky toddy and similar dangerous provocatives.

He Knew He Was Right 2004

The impudence of the spies, the mocking smiles of the police ready to show their power, were strong provocatives to the crowd.

Mother 2003

Then, the man who says -- "God, by these provocatives and incitements, tries the obedience of his creature," intimates by these expressions, that those occasions and arguments which are presented by God when he intends to try, are not incitements and irritations to sin, through the end and aim of God.

The Works of James Arminius, Vol. 1 1560-1609 1956

The SECOND REASON IS, that the creature being invited by the presenting of these allurements and provocatives to commit that act, cannot do otherwise than commit it; that is, such an excitation being laid down, the creature cannot suspend that act by which God intends to erect his work, otherwise God might be frustrated of his intention: Hence arises

The Works of James Arminius, Vol. 1 1560-1609 1956

Captain; but they will very seldom or never say any thing what grounds or provocatives they have given her for so doing.

The Ten Pleasures of Marriage and the Second Part, The Confession of the New Married Couple A. Marsh

On a larger scale, in political and social affairs words are powerful provocatives of emotion and of actions, determining to no small degree the allegiances and loyalties of men and the satisfaction and dissatisfactions which they experience in causes and leaders.

Human Traits and their Social Significance Irwin Edman