At any rate, I can set it right now.
— from The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

For this reason custom has established it as a rule, in common societies, that men should not indulge themselves in self-praise, or even speak much of themselves; and it is only among intimate friends or people of very manly behaviour, that one is allowed to do himself justice.
— from An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals by David Hume

Ala remained in Chitor some days, admiring the grandeur of his conquest; and having committed every act of barbarity and wanton dilapidation which a bigoted zeal could suggest, overthrowing the temples and other monuments of art, he delivered the city in charge to Maldeo, the chief of Jalor, whom he had conquered and enrolled amongst his vassals.
— from Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, v. 1 of 3 or the Central and Western Rajput States of India by James Tod

Therefore, in view of the importance he seemed to attach to the most irrelevant paragraph, Miss Hamilton could not be blamed for drawing his attention to a long article in one of those critical quarterlies or monthlies that are read in club smoking-rooms in the same spirit of desperation in which at railway stations belated travelers read time-tables.
— from Poor Relations by Compton MacKenzie

Wright's corps, commanded by Ricketts during the absence of Sheridan, while Wright himself commanded the army, was held in reserve on the high ground known as Red Hill overlooking Meadow Brook from the eastward, the divisions encamped for convenience in a sort of irregular echelon, with Ricketts's, under Keifer, in front, Upton's, commanded by Wheaton, on the right and rear in close support, and Getty's on the left and rear of both, and thus nearer to the valley road than either.
— from History of the Nineteenth Army Corps by Richard B. (Richard Biddle) Irwin

Sly Bertrand and Ratto in company sat, (The one was a monkey, the other a cat,) Co-servants and lodgers: More mischievous codgers Ne'er mess'd from a platter, since platters were flat. Was anything wrong in the house or about it, The neighbours were blameless,--no mortal could doubt it; For Bertrand was thievish, and Ratto so nice, More attentive to cheese than he was to the mice.
— from Fables of La Fontaine — a New Edition, with Notes by Jean de La Fontaine

The dark waters go over my head, and I sink for ever, were it not for a rock I can seize hold of, which is Christ a Saviour.
— from Bible Emblems by Edward Eli Seelye

He had watched the porter take his name for making a row in court, so, as the worst he could do was done, there was obviously no reason why he should discontinue making a row, and it was not till the mouthpiece had got sodden and the sides stuck together that he stopped.
— from The Babe, B.A. Being the Uneventful History of a Young Gentleman at Cambridge University by E. F. (Edward Frederic) Benson

The wisdom of God, as revealed in Christian Science, brings the serpent out of its hole, handles it, and takes away its sting.
— from Miscellaneous Writings, 1883-1896 by Mary Baker Eddy

To one of the present writers, he said during the run of the piece: ‘I admired it so much that I went to see it three times out of pure enjoyment of it, although as a rule I cannot sit out a tragic play.
— from Kate Greenaway by M. H. (Marion Harry) Spielmann

In summer her receptions were first held at the Château de Madrid, and, later on, in a château at Saint-Ouen; the guests were always called for and returned in carriages supplied by the hostess.
— from Women of Modern France (Illustrated) Woman: In all ages and in all countries Vol. 7 (of 10) by Hugo P. (Hugo Paul) Thieme

Everybody asks me that question, or insinuates it, so that I shall begin to imagine I have been in Paradise; here comes my Adam," added she sarcastically, as Mr. Hall entered, "and really I can stand him no longer, the character of Eve is odious to me.
— from It May Be True, Vol. 1 (of 3) by Wood, Henry, Mrs.