In the case of formulæ imposed by law—such ( e.g. ) as declarations of religious belief—it is doubtful whether we may understand the terms in any sense which they commonly bear, or are to take them in the sense intended by the Legislature that imposed them; and again, a difficulty is created by the gradual degradation or perversion of their meaning, which results from the strong inducements offered for their general acceptance; for thus they are continually strained and stretched until a new general understanding seems gradually to grow up as to the meaning of certain phrases; and it is continually disputed whether we may veraciously use the phrases in this new signification.
— from The Methods of Ethics by Henry Sidgwick

And now—[ goes up stage ]
— from Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde

Women shall join in the races: young girls who are not grown up shall run naked; but after thirteen they shall be suitably dressed; from thirteen to eighteen they shall be obliged to share in these contests, and from eighteen to twenty they may if they please and if they are unmarried.
— from Laws by Plato

[Illustration: Naughty Claude] When Little Claude was naughty wunst At dinner-time, an' said He won't say " Thank you " to his Ma, She maked him go to bed An' stay two hours an' not git up,— So when the clock struck Two, Nen Claude says,—"Thank you, Mr. Clock, I'm much obleeged to you!"
— from Riley Child-Rhymes by James Whitcomb Riley

Maybe we’ll live days on the first floor, and sleep in bedrooms on the second floor, and never go up stairs on the other floors at all.”
— from The Corner House Girls How they moved to Milton, what they found, and what they did by Grace Brooks Hill

"I am not going up stairs yet, mamma," said Pauline, "I will sit up for Mr. Wentworth."
— from Graham's Magazine Vol XXXII. No. 5. May 1848 by Various