To have serpentlike qualities devoid of dovelike qualities is to be passionless, mean, and selfish. To have dovelike without serpentlike qualities is to be sentimental, anemic, and aimless. We must combine strongly marked antitheses.

Now will I show myself to have more of the serpent than the dove; that is, more knave than fool.

I used to call her, in my stupidity — for want of anything better — a dove

He was warrior and mystic, ogre and saint, the fox and the innocent, chivalrous, ruthless, less than a god, more than a man.

The preservation of a democratic civilization requires the wisdom of the serpent and the harmlessness of the dove.

First as a serpent, it’ll cast its spell Next to your heart, curled up. Then it’ll come as a dove as well, Cooing for days nonstop.

Genius moves to creation, not to destruction. Only a very few have combined both.

The dove is not a coward to fear the hawk; it is simply wise.

Jesus recognized the need for blending opposites. He knew that his disciples would face a difficult and hostile world, where they would confront the recalcitrance of political officials and the intransigence of the protectors of the old order. He knew that they would meet cold and arrogant men whose hearts had been hardened by the long winter of traditionalism. ... And he gave them a formula for action, "Be ye therefore as wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." ... We must combine the toughness of the serpent with the softness of the dove, a tough mind and a tender heart.

Look like the innocent flower,
But be the serpent under it.

You're not a monster, Shallan

The violinist is that peculiarly human phenomenon distilled to a rare potency - half tiger, half poet.

I'm a hawk—but no kamikaze. And Jim's a dove—but he's not chicken.

the other hand neither was he a man, nor any sapient proteinoid of the glutinous-albuminous variety. The head was round and plump, with red cheeks, but for eyes it had two penny whistles, and for ears it had thuribles, which gave off a thick cloud of incense. He was dressed