But it is a custom, a low and a paltry custom, picked up by low and paltry spirits who have no sense of honor, no regard to decency, but are forced to substitute some rhapsody of nonsense to supply the vacancy of good sense.
— from The Gentlemen's Book of Etiquette and Manual of Politeness Being a Complete Guide for a Gentleman's Conduct in All His Relations Towards Society by Cecil B. Hartley

Rose the sultana from a bed of splendour, Softer than the soft Sybarite's, who cried Aloud because his feelings were too tender To brook a ruffled rose-leaf by his side,— So beautiful that art could little mend her, Though pale with conflicts between love and pride;— So agitated was she with her error, She did not even look into the mirror.
— from Don Juan by Byron, George Gordon Byron, Baron

"But you must distinguish between love and passion," said Maggie, adding, with a touch of contempt: "Men will easily have a passion for you, but they won't love you."
— from The Rainbow by D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence

At this intelligence, the worthy Mrs. Corney muttered a variety of invectives against old women who couldn't even die without purposely annoying their betters; and, muffling herself in a thick shawl which she hastily caught up, briefly requested Mr. Bumble to stay till she came back, lest anything particular should occur.
— from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

A State which has been long at peace should, therefore, always seek to procure some officers who have done good service at the different scenes of Warfare, or to send there some of its own, that they may get a lesson in War.
— from On War — Volume 1 by Carl von Clausewitz

Ben shook in Adam's iron grasp, but, like a plucky small man as he was, he didn't mean to give in.
— from Adam Bede by George Eliot

The Fiend repli'd not, overcome with rage; But like a proud Steed reind, went hautie on, Chaumping his iron curb: to strive or flie He held it vain; awe from above had quelld 860 His heart, not else dismai'd.
— from The Poetical Works of John Milton by John Milton

Like all other arts, the Science of Deduction and Analysis is one which can only be acquired by long and patient study nor is life long enough to allow any mortal to attain the highest possible perfection in it.
— from A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

And when, later that afternoon, a message came round saying that irresponsible units were not to fire at hostile aircraft, owing to the danger of spent bullets, he bragged like any pernicious schoolboy.
— from Tell England A Study in a Generation by Ernest Raymond

"In the beginning of June the ships of war and vessels containing the land-forces appeared before Louisbourg, a place so secured by nature that art was almost superfluous, and yet fortified by art as if nature had left it open.
— from The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. in Nine Volumes, Volume 04 The Adventurer; The Idler by Samuel Johnson

[116] That gives very clearly the difference between legal and political sovereignty.
— from The English Utilitarians, Volume 2 (of 3) James Mill by Leslie Stephen

Flatterwell began, like a true adept in his art, by lulling all Parley's suspicions asleep, and instead of openly abusing his master, which would have opened Parley's eyes at once, he pretended rather to commend him in a general way, as a person who meant well himself, but was too apt to suspect others.
— from Stories for the Young; Or, Cheap Repository Tracts Entertaining, Moral, and Religious. Vol. VI. by Hannah More

"A restorer, doubtless; but—" "Like a patient scholar, and a scholarly patient, allow me to 'exhibit' my own medicines according to my own notion of the various crises of your distemper.
— from Alton Locke, Tailor and Poet: An Autobiography by Charles Kingsley

He has never advanced a step, but is wood-cutting and rail-splitting in the bush, like a poor Savoyard.
— from A Boy's Voyage Round the World by Samuel Smiles

And, though both life and pleasure spake, Yet many a heart for love did break.
— from Rampolli by George MacDonald