Lady Bertram could not give her much time, or many words, but she felt her, as Fanny's sister, to have a claim at Mansfield, and was ready to kiss and like her; and Susan was more than satisfied, for she came perfectly aware that nothing but ill-humour was to be expected from aunt Norris; and was so provided with happiness, so strong in that best of blessings, an escape from many certain evils, that she could have stood against a great deal more indifference than she met with from the others.
— from Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

"That beast is in torment, and whatever my opinion of him may be, I cannot endure to see him suffering pain.
— from Rilla of Ingleside by L. M. (Lucy Maud) Montgomery

It reckons how much it stands indebted to God that its conscience and the intestine passions are in repose; that it has the body in its natural disposition, orderly and competently enjoying the soft and soothing functions by which He, of His grace is pleased to compensate the sufferings wherewith
— from Essays of Michel de Montaigne — Complete by Michel de Montaigne

He, with his consorted Eve, The story heard attentive, and was filled With admiration and deep muse, to hear Of things so high and strange; things, to their thought So unimaginable, as hate in Heaven, And war so near the peace of God in bliss, With such confusion: but the evil, soon Driven back, redounded as a flood on those From whom it sprung; impossible to mix With blessedness.
— from Paradise Lost by John Milton

First for them that are transformed in likenes of beastes or foules, can enter through so narrow passages, although I may easelie beleeue that the Deuill coulde by his woorkemanshippe vpon the aire, make them appeare to be in such formes, either to themselues or to others: Yet how he can contract a solide bodie within so little roome, I thinke it is directlie contrarie to it selfe, for to be made so little, and yet not diminished: To be so straitlie drawen together, and yet feele no paine; I thinke it is so contrarie to the qualitie of a naturall bodie, and so like to the little transubstantiat god in the Papistes Masse , that I can neuer beleeue it.
— from Daemonologie. by King of England James I

No, no, worthy gentlemen; to tell you true, I cannot endure to see the rabble of these ground ciarlitani, that spread their cloaks on the pavement, as if they meant to do feats of activity, and then come in lamely, with their mouldy tales out of Boccacio, like stale Tabarine, the fabulist: some of them discoursing their travels, and of their tedious captivity in the Turks' galleys, when, indeed, were the truth known, they were the Christians' galleys, where very temperately they eat bread, and drunk water, as a wholesome penance, enjoined them by their confessors, for base pilferies.
— from Volpone; Or, The Fox by Ben Jonson

They are common enough, varied enough, and cheap enough to suit all tastes.
— from All About Coffee by William H. (William Harrison) Ukers

Well, well, we cannot expect to score every time.”
— from The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

'There is no private house, (said he,) in which people can enjoy themselves so well, as at a capital tavern.
— from Boswell's Life of Johnson Abridged and edited, with an introduction by Charles Grosvenor Osgood by James Boswell

Any system that gives the whole product to the capitalist, except the small stipend paid for the time the laborer is employed, is oppressive.
— from Monopolies and the People by D. C. Cloud

She looked at me, or rather through me, in a pitying, uncomprehending way, and went on: “The well-bred Englishwoman never makes an allusion or an implication that could cause even the slightest trace of discomfiture or annoyance to the person addressed.”
— from The Emily Emmins Papers by Carolyn Wells

I therefore hope that you will give early authority to General Officer Commanding, Egypt, to send them on to Mediterranean Expeditionary Force."
— from Gallipoli Diary, Volume 2 by Ian Hamilton

Serve with sauce made by browning tablespoon onion in tablespoon olive oil, adding tablespoon flour and browning, then add one cup tomatoes, two tablespoons green or red chile pulp, salt; cook and pour across center of fish, allowing brown crisp ends to show.
— from California Mexican-Spanish Cook Book: Selected Mexican and Spanish Recipes by Bertha Haffner-Ginger

A mirror, placed at an angle of forty-five degrees, reaching from the front part of the arms to the back edge of the seat, reflects the bottom of the chair, thereby inducing the spectators to believe that they see the back of the chair; ergo , the seat is empty.
— from The Old and the New Magic by Henry Ridgely Evans

In critical emergencies, the States-General are often compelled to overleap their constitutional bounds.
— from The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton

Hitherto they had carried their snow-shoes under their arms, as the beaten track along which they travelled rendered them unnecessary; but now, having to leave the path and pursue the remainder of their journey through deep snow, they availed themselves of those useful machines, by means of which the inhabitants of this part of North America are enabled to journey over many miles of trackless wilderness, with nearly as much ease as a sportsman can traverse the moors in autumn, and that over snow so deep that one hour's walk through it without such aids would completely exhaust the stoutest trapper, and advance him only a mile or so on his journey.
— from Snowflakes and Sunbeams; Or, The Young Fur-traders: A Tale of the Far North by R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne

I have heard two young friends, who have attained great skill in scientific and elaborate compositions, execute the simple song of "Low down in the Broom," with an effect I shall not easily forget.
— from Reminiscences of Scottish Life & Character by Edward Bannerman Ramsay

Balcarres confessed the trust which had been put in him, and asked the King if, after that, he could enter the service of another.
— from Viscount Dundee by Louis A. Barbé

he cried; for this was the phrase by which the odd creature expressed the sense of frequency.
— from The Merry Men, and Other Tales and Fables by Robert Louis Stevenson