Arson Quote by Vernon Scannell
““Incendiary That one small boy with a face like pallid cheese And burnt-out little eyes could make a blaze As brazen, fierce and huge, as red and gold And zany yellow as the one that spoiled Three thousand guineas' worth of property And crops at Godwin's Farm on Saturday Is frightening---as fact and metaphor: An ordinary match intended for The lighting of a pipe or kitchen fire Misused may set a whole menagerie Of flame-fanged tigers roaring hungrily. And frightening, too, that one small boy should set The sky on fire and choke the stars to heat Such skinny limbs and such a little heart Which would have been content with one warm kiss Had there been anyone to offer this.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: 2020s, "Incendiary" (published online)
A small boy’s innocent act ignites massive destruction, illustrating how minor sparks can unleash uncontrollable chaos.
In simple terms: Small actions can cause huge, harmful consequences.
Key Takeaway
Handle seemingly minor threats with care.
Themes
danger
innocence
consequences
chaos
responsibility
Mood
dramatic
warning
Type
narrative
cautionary
When to use this quote
- childhood behavior
- fire safety
- risk assessment
Key Concepts
physics
social impact
ethical responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- What small actions could have big impacts?
- How to prevent escalation of minor risks?
A Different Perspective
Not all small acts lead to disaster.
![“[Non-flammable? Challenge accepted.] [Alan], I texted, [arson is bad.] [It's in the spirit of academic inquiry! It's SCIENCE!] ['Science' is not a legal defense.] [Damn them.]” quote by KD Sarge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/72f/kd-sarge-90844_arson_non-flammable-challenge-accepted-alan-i_673142.jpg)
