Literary notes about Overzealous (AI summary)
In literature, the term "overzealous" is often employed to underscore a character’s excessive passion or imprudence, suggesting that an abundance of zeal can lead to unintended consequences. It is used to depict not only the fervor of individuals—whether in contexts of youthful impulsiveness as seen in [1] or an overeager protector as in [2]—but also to criticize unbridled enthusiasm in more institutional or historical settings, such as the hyperactive literary embellishments noted in [3] or even the rashness of officers in [4]. The word frequently carries an ironic tone, hinting that too much zeal, whether in personal ambition ([5]) or professional conduct ([6]), can bring about both humorous and serious missteps, thereby enriching the narrative with a nuanced perspective on human behavior.
- [34] The Assembly had been in session but three days when several overzealous young men broke into the magazine to take out some of the arms.
— from Give Me Liberty: The Struggle for Self-Government in Virginia by Thomas Jefferson Wertenbaker - "What else can Simon think but that his friend was killed by some overzealous protector of mine?"
— from The Saracen: Land of the Infidel by Robert Shea - Again the public came to know George Washington, not by his own words, but by those attributed to him by an overzealous stylist-pedant.
— from George Washington by William Roscoe Thayer - Overzealous to proceed against the "niggers," officers rushed into places frequented by peaceable colored men, whom they placed under arrest.
— from Half a Man: The Status of the Negro in New York by Mary White Ovington - Not very long since he had missed a promotion by being overzealous.
— from Tangled Trails: A Western Detective Story by William MacLeod Raine - He needs the aid of counsel lest he be the victim of overzealous prosecutors, of the law's complexity, or of his own ignorance or bewilderment."
— from The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and InterpretationAnnotations of Cases Decided by the Supreme Court of the United States to June 30, 1952
