Make him understand, that to acknowledge the error he shall discover in his own argument, though only found out by himself, is an effect of judgment and sincerity, which are the principal things he is to seek after; that obstinacy and contention are common qualities, most appearing in mean souls; that to revise and correct himself, to forsake an unjust argument in the height and heat of dispute, are rare, great, and philosophical qualities.
— from Essays of Michel de Montaigne — Complete by Michel de Montaigne

The world is not led by long or learned demonstrations; a rapid glance at particular incidents, the daily study of the fleeting passions of the multitude, the accidents of the time, and the art of turning them to account, decide all its affairs.
— from Democracy in America — Volume 2 by Alexis de Tocqueville

[653] For I see no reason (as [654] he said) why an epicure or idle drone, a rich glutton, a usurer, should live at ease, and do nothing, live in honour, in all manner of pleasures, and oppress others, when as in the meantime a poor labourer, a smith, a carpenter, an husbandman that hath spent his time in continual labour, as an ass to carry burdens, to do the commonwealth good, and without whom we cannot live, shall be left in his old age to beg or starve, and lead a miserable life worse than a jument.
— from The Anatomy of Melancholy by Robert Burton

Moreover, the explanation is countenanced by a considerable body of opinion amongst the ancients themselves, who again and again interpreted the dying and reviving god as the reaped and sprouting grain.
— from The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion by James George Frazer

At least he declared he did, and insisted on shaking him by the hand and assuring him that he was proud to meet a man who had discovered a real genius and gone bankrupt over a poet.
— from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Diana and Ruby Gillis and Jane Andrews are preparing a dialogue, called ‘A Morning Visit,’ for next Friday.
— from Anne of Green Gables by L. M. (Lucy Maud) Montgomery

And in Soames there was some common pride, not sufficient to make him do a really generous action, but enough to prevent his indulging in an extremely mean one, except, perhaps, in very hot blood.
— from The Forsyte Saga, Volume I. The Man Of Property by John Galsworthy

After directing a rapid glance at the heavy stone hanging over his head and another at Elias and the yellowish individual, Ibarra said to Ñor Juan in a somewhat unsteady voice, “Give me the mortar and get me another trowel up there.” The youth remained alone.
— from The Social Cancer: A Complete English Version of Noli Me Tangere by José Rizal

Nobody, however, volunteered to obey the command; and Mr. Winkle, after darting a rebellious glance at Mr. Pickwick, reloaded his gun, and proceeded onwards with the rest.
— from The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens

His mingled prayers and blasphemies, hymns and horrid songs, defiance and remorse, groans and laughter, made everyone hate and avoid him.
— from Rattlin the Reefer by Edward Howard

In very heinous cases it might be necessary to proceed to the extreme length of social excommunication, the efficacy of which, in cases where it deserved and received general assent, would be even greater than in the Middle Ages; the organization of the spiritual power in those times being very imperfect.
— from A General View of Positivism Or, Summary exposition of the System of Thought and Life by Auguste Comte

But if it turn out as I suspect,—that, contrary to vulgar prudence, I am divining a really great and good man in difficulties, aha, what a triumph I shall then gain over them all!
— from What Will He Do with It? — Complete by Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron

But is it not possible that He , Who sent an evil spirit into the mouths of the false prophets of Ahab, to lure him to his doom at Ramoth Gilead, and permitted the witch of Endor, not by any power of her own, to raise up the spirit of Samuel, that he might foretell to the unhappy Saul his coming fate; that He allowed the instrumentality of this wretched victim of a terrible delusion, to accomplish his end—that end which the progress of our tale will reveal as the direct consequence of this episode.
— from The Last Abbot of Glastonbury: A Tale of the Dissolution of the Monasteries by A. D. (Augustine David) Crake

Not even for the sake of Him who, hanging on the tree, after all the bitterness of blows and whipping, and derision, and rudest gestures and taunts, even when the faintness of death was upon Him, cried to His Father to forgive their cruelty.
— from Annals of a Quiet Neighbourhood by George MacDonald

[536] STO Stóla, a long vesture, a rob of honoure or dignity, a religious garment, a stole, or tippet, or hood as Doctors or freemen of London weare vpon their shoulders.
— from Queen Anna's New World of Words; or, Dictionarie of the Italian and English Tongues by John Florio