You may think perhaps, that a little Tea, or a little Punch now and then, Diet a little more costly, Clothes a little finer, and a little Entertainment now and then, can be no great Matter; but remember what Poor Richard says, Many a Little makes a Mickle.
— from Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin

Respect to age is a noble feeling—though one that is unfortunately at a low ebb now-a-days—but truth, compels me and I must pronounce all the elderly women to be positively ugly, and a woman is elderly in Kashmir when in England she still might be called young.
— from Three Months of My Life by J. F. (John Frederick) Foster

Indeed, we may reasonably calculate the annual loss in our country alone, from noxious animals and the lower forms of plants, such as rust, smut and mildew, as (at a low estimate) not far from five hundred million dollars annually.
— from Our Common Insects A Popular Account of the Insects of Our Fields, Forests, Gardens and Houses by A. S. (Alpheus Spring) Packard

At present, I think the ground I have taken has puzzled them: they wish me gone, but they apprehend that it would be too harsh a measure to send off, in a peremptory manner, the Minister of my country; though there is no saying what their conduct will ultimately be, as I am informed that they have already sent off thirteen foreign Ministers: and a late emigrant, now here, has assured them that America is not of greater consequence to them, nor ought to be treated with greater respect, than Geneva or Genoa.
— from Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. 2 (of 16) by United States. Congress

Let us hope that the days are at hand, if not already arrived, in which the acquirement of such fundamental knowledge will be looked upon as at least equally necessary with the study of languages, and the cultivation of taste and imagination.—
— from The Mirror Of Literature, Amusement, And Instruction Volume 14, No. 391, September 26, 1829 by Various

"And all this about a little extra natural vermilion!" exclaims Adolphe.
— from Analytical Studies by Honoré de Balzac

That's the remark which I have been making since I have been in your lordship's house; I can't help telling it out, you see, now 'tis on my mind; and I think I am a little easier now I have said it.”
— from The Virginians by William Makepeace Thackeray

You know Indian arms and legends, even names, were fashionable in Paris when Chateaubriand made every one weep with his Atala and Chactas?
— from Babes in the Bush by Rolf Boldrewood

"There's Gaynor's about fifteen miles along, an' Loose End nigh on thirty.
— from Captivity by Leonora Eyles