In the details of management, therefore, the local bodies will generally have the advantage, but in comprehension of the principles even of purely local management, the superiority of the central government, when rightly constituted, ought to be prodigious, not only by reason of the probably great personal superiority of the individuals composing it, and the multitude of thinkers and writers who are at all times engaged in pressing useful ideas upon their notice, but also because the knowledge and experience of any local authority is but local knowledge and experience, confined to their own part of the country and its modes of management, whereas the central government has the means of knowing all that is to be learned from the united experience of the whole kingdom, with the addition of easy access to that of foreign countries.
— from Considerations on Representative Government by John Stuart Mill

Perhaps we should never procure a new suit, however ragged or dirty the old, until we have so conducted, so enterprised or sailed in some way, that we feel like new men in the old, and that to retain it would be like keeping new wine in old bottles.
— from Walden, and On The Duty Of Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau

2. And as he was deliberating to whom he should commit the care of the East, now it was in so great a commotion, and who might be best able to punish the Jews for their rebellion, and might prevent the same distemper from seizing upon the neighboring nations also,—he found no one but Vespasian equal to the task, and able to undergo the great burden of so mighty a war, seeing he was growing an old man already in the camp, and from his youth had been exercised in warlike exploits: he was also a man that had long ago pacified the west, and made it subject to the Romans, when it had been put into disorder by the Germans; he had also recovered to them Britain by his arms, which had been little known before 1 whereby he procured to his father Claudius to have a triumph bestowed on him without any sweat or labor of his own.
— from The Wars of the Jews; Or, The History of the Destruction of Jerusalem by Flavius Josephus

If either of you both love Katherina, Because I know you well and love you well, Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure.
— from The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare

The thing, indeed, is but little known, through the obscure station of the individuals, still it is wonderful.
— from The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books I-VII by Ovid

Boswell, a gentleman who has been long known to me, is desirous of being known to you, and has asked this recommendation, which I give him with great willingness, because I think it very much to be wished that worthy and religious men should be acquainted with each other.
— from Boswell's Life of Johnson Abridged and edited, with an introduction by Charles Grosvenor Osgood by James Boswell

Had he gone on to imitate another satire, it would have been as hard as Hebrew.' Garrick being now vested with theatrical power by being manager of Drury-lane theatre, he kindly and generously made use of it to bring out Johnson's tragedy, which had been long kept back for want of encouragement.
— from Boswell's Life of Johnson Abridged and edited, with an introduction by Charles Grosvenor Osgood by James Boswell

It is an important authority, but as it was printed only for the use of the members of the Hakluyt Society, it is but little known in this country.
— from History of the Colony and Ancient Dominion of Virginia by Charles Campbell

In other words, he was a student, though a bobbin boy, loving knowledge more than play, and determined to make the most of his very limited opportunities.
— from The Bobbin Boy or, How Nat Got His learning by William Makepeace Thayer

“Maung Nita, one of the Burmans who was with me, said, ‘Sir, if you had not finished her with the second shot we would all have been lying kicking on the ground.’
— from Anecdotes of Big Cats and Other Beasts by David Alec Wilson

The manner and details of this surrender will be arranged between Lord Kitchener and Commandant-General Botha, Assistant Commandant-General de la Rey, and Chief-Commandant de Wet.
— from Through Shot and Flame The Adventures and Experiences of J. D. Kestell Chaplain to President Steyn and General Christian De Wet by J. D. (John Daniel) Kestell

But Lawry knew how order could be brought out of chaos, and the derangement of furniture and utensils did not disturb him.
— from Haste and Waste; Or, the Young Pilot of Lake Champlain. A Story for Young People by Oliver Optic

But Lanier knew that the populace would regard it as a mere ruse to gain time and would take the prisoner and hang him forth-with, should the officials hesitate.
— from Overshadowed: A Novel by Sutton E. (Sutton Elbert) Griggs

At breakfast Lady Kitty did not appear.
— from The Marriage of William Ashe by Ward, Humphry, Mrs.

The Kernel did not say anything, but looked kinder cross-eyed at me.
— from Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia by Seba Smith

Greece, Egypt, Phoenicia, Syria, the three Arabias, and countries then but little known, are subject to a brutish people, who do not even condescend to mix with the inhabitants of the country, but who rule over them in a manner the most humiliating and disgraceful.
— from An Inquiry into the Permanent Causes of the Decline and Fall of Powerful and Wealthy Nations. Designed To Shew How The Prosperity Of The British Empire May Be Prolonged by William Playfair