I was but ten years old when this happened: but whether it was, that the action itself was more in unison to my nerves at that age of pity, which instantly set my whole frame into one vibration of most pleasurable sensation;—or how far the manner and expression of it might go towards it;—or in what degree, or by what secret magick,—a tone of voice and harmony of movement, attuned by mercy, might find a passage to my heart, I know not;—this I know, that the lesson of universal good-will then taught and imprinted by my uncle Toby, has never since been worn out of my mind: And tho’ I would not depreciate 200 what the study of the Literæ humaniores, at the university, have done for me in that respect, or discredit the other helps of an expensive education bestowed upon me, both at home and abroad
— from The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Sterne

Bookmakers use metallic books and pencils.
— from The Slang Dictionary: Etymological, Historical and Andecdotal by John Camden Hotten

An army to be useful must be a unit, and out of this has grown the saying, attributed to Napoleon, but doubtless spoken before the days of Alexander, that an army with an inefficient commander was better than one with two able heads.
— from Memoirs of General William T. Sherman — Complete by William T. (William Tecumseh) Sherman

O wealth and majesty, O conquering skill That carved life's rebel pathways to my will, What is your heart but bitterness, if now For this poor crown Thebes bound upon my brow, A gift, a thing I sought not—for this crown Creon the stern and true, Creon mine own Comrade, comes creeping in the dark to ban And slay me; sending first this magic-man And schemer, this false beggar-priest, whose eye Is bright for gold and blind for prophecy?
— from Oedipus King of Thebes Translated into English Rhyming Verse with Explanatory Notes by Sophocles

Propositions, sentences, bear the same relation to judgments that distinct words, built up mainly by analyzing propositions in their various types, bear to meanings or conceptions; and just as words imply a sentence, so a sentence implies a larger whole of consecutive discourse into which it fits.
— from How We Think by John Dewey

I could feel the succulent giving of flesh and bone under my blows, and for a moment I was free.
— from The Time Machine by H. G. (Herbert George) Wells

People did not hide in those days without excellent hiding places, and the hiding place that has once been used may be again.
— from The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle

He debated and hesitated;—it was a serious charge;—a girl so brought up must be adequately provided for, or there would be cruelty instead of kindness in taking her from her family.
— from Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

ETEXT EDITOR’S BOOKMARKS FOR PEPYS DIARY OF 1961: A most tedious, unreasonable, and impertinent sermon A play not very good, though commended much A great baboon, but so much like a man in most things A little while since a very likely man to live as any I knew A lady spit backward upon me by a mistake
— from The Diary of Samuel Pepys — Complete by Samuel Pepys

So I took my staff again and my burden upon my back and my little child within my arms, and set out for this place where my son might grow up a free man, and not be called upon to forsake the faith for which we suffered in Spain."
— from The New Land Stories of Jews Who Had a Part in the Making of Our Country by Elma Ehrlich Levinger

My wife, who had come to see me for the last time previous to her lying-in, perceiving my deep dejection at the approach of her departure for Botley, resolved not to go; and actually went and took a lodging as near to Newgate as she could find one, in order that the communication between us might be as speedy as possible; and in order that I might see the doctor, and receive assurances from him relative to her state.
— from Advice to Young Men And (Incidentally) to Young Women in the Middle and Higher Ranks of Life. In a Series of Letters, Addressed to a Youth, a Bachelor, a Lover, a Husband, a Father, a Citizen, or a Subject. by William Cobbett

The Comforter, Instructor, Patron, Guide, Advocate, whom this term brings before us, must be a person.
— from Systematic Theology (Volume 1 of 3) by Augustus Hopkins Strong

Bonaparte’s face what suffering the Emperor’s words had caused her, I remembered that my mother had once said that advice to be useful must be adapted to the character of the person to whom it is offered, and I refrained from uttering the lofty sentiments of which my mind was full.
— from Memoirs of the Empress Josephine, Vol. 1 of 2 by Madame de (Claire Elisabeth Jeanne Gravier de Vergennes) Rémusat

With that name upon his lips the brave old soldier sank back upon my bosom, and with his hands still clasped yielded up his soul.”
— from Souvenir of the George Borrow Celebration Norwich, July 5th, 1913 by James Hooper

Fine residences, splendid establishments, brilliant uniforms, much bowing and many genuflections, plenty of parade and glitter—everything for show.
— from The Cab of the Sleeping Horse by John Reed Scott

In the same instant there gleamed before my eyes a little circle of fire, which blazed and expanded into immensity, until its many-coloured glare beat upon my brain and thrilled me with torture.
— from By the Ionian Sea: Notes of a Ramble in Southern Italy by George Gissing

So that I would be satisfied to meet death willingly could I catch but one glimpse before it comes of the ship that has been my home all my life, brought up my bairns, and kept a comfortable abode ashore for me.
— from The Shellback's Progress In the Nineteenth Century by Runciman, Walter Runciman, Baron