We may, on the other hand, construct a nervous system potentially adapted to respond to an infinite variety of minute features in the situation; but its fallibility will then be as great as its elaboration.
— from The Principles of Psychology, Volume 1 (of 2) by William James

The treasures of the deep are not so precious As are the concealed comforts of a man Lock’d up in woman’s love.
— from The Sketch-Book of Geoffrey Crayon by Washington Irving

The things are not so painful and difficult of themselves, but our weakness or cowardice makes them so.
— from Essays of Michel de Montaigne — Complete by Michel de Montaigne

“You're always being disagreeable about nothing,” said Peter, after some heated argument.
— from The Railway Children by E. (Edith) Nesbit

In sociology, Gumplowicz arrived at the notions of a "natural social process" and of "reciprocal action of heterogeneous elements"
— from Introduction to the Science of Sociology by E. W. (Ernest Watson) Burgess

No country can be named in which all the native inhabitants are now so perfectly adapted to each other and to the physical conditions under which they live, that none of them could anyhow be improved; for in all countries, the natives have been so far conquered by naturalised productions, that they have allowed foreigners to take firm possession of the land.
— from On the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection Or, the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life by Charles Darwin

I am not so profound as some people, but whose business is that?
— from The Duel and Other Stories by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

I formerly possessed a large dog who was not at all afraid to fight with other dogs; but a wolf-like shepherd-dog in the neighbourhood, though not ferocious and not so powerful as my dog, had a strange influence over him.
— from The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals by Charles Darwin

[3] [strain and save] THE BROTH, AND PUT IT IN A NEW SAUCE PAN, ADD MILK AND A LITTLE SALT, HONEY AND A PINT
— from Cookery and Dining in Imperial Rome by Apicius

Such places, situated in the midst of rich meadows, can sometimes barely find water enough for the cattle, who are not so particular as to quality.
— from The Hills and the Vale by Richard Jefferies

425 Courtship may be said to consist of a number of quiet attentions, not so pointed as to alarm, nor so vague as not to be understood.
— from Life and Literature Over two thousand extracts from ancient and modern writers, and classified in alphabetical order by John Purver Richardson

"I am not so patient as you, Gallito."
— from The Black Pearl by Woodrow, Wilson, Mrs.

A report had passed through the village, several months before, purporting to come from a reliable source, which represented Mrs. Danforth as not so poor as she appeared; that she assumed her poverty-stricken garb and appearance to excite sympathy, and thus swindle, in a small way, from the purses of her wealthy neighbors.
— from Eventide A Series of Tales and Poems by Effie Afton

fort at noon; Squires, Provost, and La Fleur had returned; they had wounded a Bighorn, but had lost it.
— from Audubon and His Journals, Volume 2 (of 2) by John James Audubon

I notice a difference in the way the upper lip sweeps down from the outer edge of the nostril; but more noticeable still is the fact that the cheek-bones of the American girls are not so prominent, and the smooth curve down the cheek to the chin is less broken by smaller curves.
— from The Confessions of a Caricaturist, Vol. 2 by Harry Furniss

He, following up the thrust with taunting cries, Lays the pierced Virgin at his careless feet; She as she falls, in mournful tones outsighs, Her last faint words, pathetically sweet; Which a new spirit prompts, a spirit replete With charity, and faith, and hope serene, Sent dove-like down from God's pure mercy-seat; Who, though through life his rebel she had been, Would have her die a fond, repentant Magdalene.
— from Studies in the Poetry of Italy, Part II. Italian by Oscar Kuhns

“I am not so presumptuous as to think a school girl's ideas could be of any value to an artist like him, though, if we may believe men, they all draw from us their best inspirations.
— from The Magician's Show Box, and Other Stories by Lydia Maria Child

"There are no secret passages," answered Paul.
— from The Sowers by Henry Seton Merriman

Tam is a self-educated man, with no money and very few prospects and no social position, and, as you say, he is straight and honest—" "He is the straightest and most honest man in the world," said Vera warmly.
— from Tam o' the Scoots by Edgar Wallace