This was a stroke of genius; and, even if he had failed, he could not have been much censured; for the grandeur and importance of the enterprise justified him in his attempt, as far as such attempts can be justified.
— from The Art of War by Jomini, Antoine Henri, baron de

So in Astronomy, it would be more convenient for purposes of study if the stars moved in circles, as was once believed: but the fact that they move not in circles but in ellipses, and even in imperfect and perturbed ellipses, does not take them out of the sphere of scientific investigation: by patience and industry we have learnt how to reduce to principles and calculate even these more complicated motions.
— from The Methods of Ethics by Henry Sidgwick

The best soil commonly yields the worst air, a dry sandy plat is fittest to build upon, and such as is rather hilly than plain, full of downs, a Cotswold country, as being most commodious for hawking, hunting, wood, waters, and all manner of pleasures.
— from The Anatomy of Melancholy by Robert Burton

This is the case even in France, where the Bolsheviks find fervent supporters in the group led by Marcel Cachin, Froissart, and Longuet, grandson of Karl Marx.
— from Secret Societies And Subversive Movements by Nesta Helen Webster

You are acquainted with the latent dream thoughts: annoyance, upon hearing that her friend had just now become engaged, at the thought that she herself had hurried so to be married; contempt for her husband; the idea that she might have had a better one had she waited.
— from A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud

But where the movement is conventionally attached to the signal, there would be more chance for delay, and the amount of practice would then determine the speed.
— from The Principles of Psychology, Volume 1 (of 2) by William James

Later on, when the Russian stranger had been made comfortable for the night, Mother came into the girls' room.
— from The Railway Children by E. (Edith) Nesbit

I find every body mightily concerned for these children, as a matter wherein the State is much concerned that they should live.
— from The Diary of Samuel Pepys — Complete by Samuel Pepys

You see, he was pretty old, and George’s g’yirls was too young to be much company for him, except Mary Jane, the red-headed one; and so he was kinder lonesome after George and his wife died, and didn’t seem to care much to live.
— from Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

[3] Drawn by M. Catenacci, from a Photograph.
— from Travels in the Central Parts of Indo-China (Siam), Cambodia, and Laos (Vol. 1 of 2) During the Years 1858, 1859, and 1860 by Henri Mouhot

The boat was laden with green topped vegetables and brightly burnished brass milk cans, forming a picture that was most quaint to look upon.
— from Vanished towers and chimes of Flanders by George Wharton Edwards

They were not of the far-fetched and the exotic, in whom Mrs. Melrose now specialized, but merely commonplace fashionable people belonging to Susy’s own group, people familiar with the amusing romance of her penniless marriage, and to whom she had to explain (though none of them really listened to the explanation) that Nick was not with her just now but had gone off cruising... cruising in the AEgean with friends... getting up material for his book (this detail had occurred to her in the night).
— from The Glimpses of the Moon by Edith Wharton

At noon, Bro. M. Coe, from our station, got on the cars and went to Detroit, and left Ray to drive his team.
— from The Underground Railroad from Slavery to Freedom: A comprehensive history by Wilbur Henry Siebert

I am not the Bridegroom, because men cannot find in me satisfaction and rest.
— from The Expositor's Bible: The Gospel of St. John, Vol. I by Marcus Dods

There I lay, like Diogenes himself, so delighted with my covering from the elements that I made a vain attempt to have it rolled on to my next quarters; but my commander for the time would give way to no such luxurious provision, and I took farewell of my beloved cask with tears in my eyes."
— from The Scrap Book, Volume 1, No. 3 May 1906 by Various

‘Tis likely, and my Fortune is to blame, my cursed Fortune, Who like Misers deals her scanty Bounties with so slow a hand, That or we die before the Blessing falls, Or have it snatcht e’er we can call it ours.
— from The Works of Aphra Behn, Volume II by Aphra Behn

The jealous God of the Jews, the all-wise, omnipotent, and benevolent, could not convert the worshippers of another god, without exterminating whole nations, even to the little children; but this barbarous mandate came from the priests, who have in all countries, and all systems of Religion, adopted this method of conversion.
— from Watson Refuted Being an Answer to the Apology for the Bible, in a Series of Letters to the Bishop Of Llandaff by Samuel W. (Samuel Ward) Francis

General, later the Baron, Marbot, came from a family which might be described as landed gentry.
— from The Memoirs of General Baron de Marbot by Marbot, Jean-Baptiste-Antoine-Marcelin, baron de

The 9th I had escaped, if I had not been more careful for those who had then been left behind than for myself.
— from A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 08 by Robert Kerr