But if there is no God?
— from Project Gutenberg Compilation of 233 Short Stories of Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

"But I will retire to the corner and turn my back, if that is necessary," growled the soldier.
— from Come Rack! Come Rope! by Robert Hugh Benson

Ala[s] it is a theme, I take no pleasure to discourse of; Would It could assoon be buried to the world, As it should die to me: nay more, I wish (Next to my part of heaven) that she would spend [Pg 16] The last part of her life so here, that all Indifferent Judges might condemn me, for A most malicious slanderer, nay texde it Upon my forehead, if you hate me mother, Put me to such a shame, pray you do, believe it There is no glory that may fall upon me, Can equall the delight I should receive In that disgrace; provided the repeal Of your long banish'd virtues, and good name, Usher'd me to it.
— from Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 10 of 10 by John Fletcher

This conduct was reprehensible enough, but, it must be insisted, there is no ground whatever for the too frequently made assertion that Flinders' charts were surreptitiously copied or actually stolen--for the loose manner in which the affair has been related in some books renders doubtful which of the two accusations the authors desired to make.
— from Terre Napoleón; a History of French Explorations and Projects in Australia by Scott, Ernest, Sir

But, if there is no gold or silver to be superseded—if the notes are added to the currency, instead of being substituted for the metallic part of it—all holders of currency lose, by the depreciation of its value, the exact equivalent of what the issuer gains.
— from Principles of Political Economy Abridged with Critical, Bibliographical, and Explanatory Notes, and a Sketch of the History of Political Economy by John Stuart Mill

To assist is a duty; but in the performance of this duty, to be gentle and feeling is god-like; and probably between individuals, there is no greater distinction than in this tender sympathy toward distress.
— from The Expedition to Borneo of H.M.S. Dido For the Suppression of Piracy by Rajah of Sarawak James

"I haven't spoken, Ulrich, because I thought it no good--because I thought you would believe her and not me--and because I wanted to spare her, too.
— from The Undying Past by Hermann Sudermann

"He has stood beside me, often and often, inspiring me with beautiful ideas, though I never guessed it, never suspected it for a single moment.
— from Austin and His Friends by Frederic Henry Balfour