Quixotic

When Mavis's friends learned of her resolution, they were unanimous in urging her to reconsider what they called her Quixotic fancy.

Sparrows: the story of an unprotected girl 1909

"You and I do not agree on that point, mamma," she said, quickly, "I have what you call a Quixotic notion, perhaps, and that is that we are attracted toward those whom Heaven intended for us, and if this be so he would not have been attracted toward Faynie if he were intended for me."

Mischievous Maid Faynie Laura Jean Libbey 1893

I believe that the man who has so sensitive a conscience about what is honourable or not, that he is called a Quixotic fool by his contemporaries, is far more likely to be right than the coarser majority who only see that a certain course is expedient.

Father Payne Benson, Arthur C. 1915

It was a reason, however, for his not mentioning the synagogue to the Mallingers -- in addition to his usual inclination to reticence on anything that the baronet would have been likely to call Quixotic enthusiasm.

Daniel Deronda George Eliot 1849

The thing described as Quixotic had now been done, and the

The Prime Minister Anthony Trollope 1848

Government that seemed likely to be in power for the next quarter of a century; a zealous Whig, who shrank from the very appearance of disaffection to his party; a man of sense, with no ambition to be called Quixotic; a member for a large constituency, possessed of only seven hundred pounds in the world when his purse was at its fullest; above all, an affectionate son and brother, now, more than ever, the main hope and reliance of those whom he held most dear; -- it may well be believed that he was not in a hurry to act the martyr.

Life and Letters of Lord Macaulay Volume 1 George Otto Trevelyan 1883

It is the duty of scholars and philosophers not to shrink from holding and expressing what men of the world call Quixotic opinions; for, if I read the history of the world rightly, the victory of reason over unreason, and the whole progress of our race, have generally been achieved by such fools as ourselves “rushing in where angels fear to tread,” till, after a time, the track becomes beaten, and even angels are no longer afraid.

Chips From A German Workshop, Vol. V. Miscellaneous Later Essays 1861

My only beef with this party - which has the best platform of the lot - is that its leader has a nasty habit of painting herself into corners. [gulps] "Quixotic" is definitely not the first adjective one wants people to associate with one's party. hat-tip to impolitical

Progressive Bloggers 2009

Can something this complicated, Quixotic and quirky work?

Go Green With The Shamelessly She-Hulk Fan Film! | Fan Cinema Today 2009

She's both attracted to and frustrated by them as she tries to find allies in her Quixotic effort to stop the wizard from continuing to brutally enslave people, snatched from their sleep all over the world.

What I've Just Read: Tower in the Crooked Wood ewillett 2009