They would not return home until they had created a scene that would make them laugh, or cry, or had some provocative thought.

After a pause, Mr. Atwell added a provocative thought: That one of the supposed values of participating in sports is learning how to lose gracefully.

Indeed, our shared core roils with mad, provocative thoughts, questioning central Jophur beliefs.

Now there's a provocative thought.

At the hearing the White House lawyer, W. Neil Eggleston, introduced a provocative new thought.

The pain, he was as yet unaware, also forced him into this strange new pattern of careful and provocative thought.

It is a provocative thought - is Charles Murray, deep down, on an antisex crusade?

It was a provocative thought that left him agitated on several levels.

It's a provocative thought, but it doesn't wash.

In his year on the Op-Ed page, not one memorable sentence, not one provocative thought, not one valuable piece of information appeared under his name.