Even at the present day, in my old age, I never take a bed with me when I visit the townships belonging to my commendary; and if I do take one, it is merely because the cavaliers who accompany me may not think I take no bed with me, because I have no good one.
— from The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo, Vol 1 (of 2) Written by Himself Containing a True and Full Account of the Discovery and Conquest of Mexico and New Spain. by Bernal Díaz del Castillo

As Professor Owen has remarked, there is no greater anomaly in nature than a bird that cannot fly; yet there are several in this state.
— from The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection Or, the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, 6th Edition by Charles Darwin

"An' I never took a bite.
— from A Little Princess Being the whole story of Sara Crewe now told for the first time by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The heathen origin of Christmas is plainly hinted at, if not tacitly admitted, by Augustine when he exhorts his Christian brethren not to celebrate that solemn day like the heathen on account of the sun, but on account of him who made the sun.
— from The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion by James George Frazer

The attempt costs nothing, or costs but little,—to attempt is not to adopt,—but before all, above all, let us be lavish of light.
— from William Shakespeare by Victor Hugo

He struck me the first night aboard, and I never took a blow yet but wot I gave as good.
— from The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 19 by Robert Louis Stevenson

Suppose an impossibility, namely, that a balloon could carry with it a force equal to 400 horse-power; this result would be of little use, for under the immense weight the fragile covering of the balloon would instantly collapse.
— from Wonderful Balloon Ascents; Or, The Conquest of the Skies A History of Balloons and Balloon Voyages by Fulgence Marion

But if your Majestie shall go on in refusing to hearken to wholesome Councels; We must for the discharge of our Conscience tell your Majestie in the humility and griefe of our hearts, that the Lords anger is not turned away, but his hand stretched out still against you and your Family.
— from The Acts Of The General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland by Church of Scotland. General Assembly

for I promised the electors that that half-brother of mine would stick by the land; and I never told a bigger lie in my life!"
— from Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. V, No. XXV, June, 1852 by Various

For all this, his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
— from The World English Bible (WEB), Complete by Anonymous

As Professor Owen has remarked, there is no greater anomaly in nature than a bird that can no fly.
— from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1st 100 Pages) by Noah Webster

Over the storm and battle there comes booming like the storm-bell the awful refrain, For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.
— from The Expositor's Bible: The Book of Isaiah, Volume 1 (of 2) by George Adam Smith

Whenever good dinners were mentioned after that, he was sure to say, "Ay, I never tasted a better dish than my Roman cuttings."
— from English Eccentrics and Eccentricities by John Timbs