He amused himself with the mistresses of his friends, but I never knew him to have one of his own, nor the least desire for it.
— from The Confessions of Jean Jacques Rousseau — Complete by Jean-Jacques Rousseau

On one occasion, when an execution had just been put in, coming home through some chance as early as six o’clock, I saw her lying (of course with a twin) under the grate in a swoon, with her hair all torn about her face; but I never knew her more cheerful than she was, that very same night, over a veal cutlet before the kitchen fire, telling me stories about her papa and mama, and the company they used to keep.
— from David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

He was rescued by the tall sergeant of our legation guard, or else he would probably have been severely beaten, if not killed, for the Japanese were unable to distinguish between foreigners of different nationalities.
— from A Diplomat in Japan The inner history of the critical years in the evolution of Japan when the ports were opened and the monarchy restored, recorded by a diplomatist who took an active part in the events of the time, with an account of his personal experiences during that period by Ernest Mason Satow

And can therefore neither be ignorance nor knowledge?
— from The Republic of Plato by Plato

But, when I came to this place, and beheld things as they are, I stopped for fear (as I said) of danger; but I now know not what to do.
— from The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan Every Child Can Read by John Bunyan

Padre Damaso squeezed his robust arms about the young man, who became very red, whether from modesty or lack of breath is not known.
— from The Social Cancer: A Complete English Version of Noli Me Tangere by José Rizal

ignorar t be ignorant, not know.
— from Doña Perfecta by Benito Pérez Galdós

“I am not mad,” replied he, “but I now know the worst and have it for certain before my eyes.”
— from Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England by Bede, the Venerable, Saint

Our mission was to find quarters for the legation, and after consultation with them we went to inspect a yashiki behind the castle, which had been occupied in the spring by Iga no Kami, Keiki's principal minister.
— from A Diplomat in Japan The inner history of the critical years in the evolution of Japan when the ports were opened and the monarchy restored, recorded by a diplomatist who took an active part in the events of the time, with an account of his personal experiences during that period by Ernest Mason Satow

The barrister is now known all over Russia, but then he was only at the beginning of his popularity, and he was not rich or famous enough to have the right not to recognise a friend when he met him or not to raise his hat.
— from Project Gutenberg Compilation of 233 Short Stories of Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

[Inclosing the preceding Letter.] “I always told your poor father my son was a Fool, but I never knew he was a Scoundrel until the mail came in from China.
— from No Name by Wilkie Collins

My own opinion is that a spell has been cast over it, and that it is bewitched.” “I never knew it to come as far as this without stopping,” I said, “and to come this far without a single annoying noise makes me sure we should not attempt Port Lafayette to-day in this car.
— from The Adventures of a Suburbanite by Ellis Parker Butler

It has been my lot to live among idolaters—among persons of all creeds, and of all religions; but I never knew yet of a single instance in which public means were not provided sufficient to teach the people the religion of their country.
— from Maxims and Opinions of Field-Marshal His Grace the Duke of Wellington, Selected From His Writings and Speeches During a Public Life of More Than Half a Century by Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of

"But I never knew a fellow have the luck that Newton has.
— from Ralph the Heir by Anthony Trollope

There is some evidence in favour of the supposition that this caterpillar is in some way dependent upon ants for nourishment after the third moult, if not before, but what the exact requirement may be is not known.
— from The Butterflies of the British Isles by Richard South

Capture him if possible; but if necessary, kill him.
— from Beverly of Graustark by George Barr McCutcheon

No; I have seen police officers out there in the club, but I never knew one in particular.
— from Warren Commission (14 of 26): Hearings Vol. XIV (of 15) by United States. Warren Commission

"You say you are no musician, Clem, but I never knew [352] anyone who could make lovelier sounds come out of a piano," Poppy said.
— from Poppy: The Story of a South African Girl by Cynthia Stockley

There's some mystery about the old man, but I never knew what.
— from Tom Grogan by Francis Hopkinson Smith