Why we think a deformed person or a hunchback clever if he says something we might say.
— from Ulysses by James Joyce

She manages the money, reproaches the tax-gatherers, appoints the times and places of devotion on Sundays, licenses Mr. Snagsby's entertainments, and acknowledges no responsibility as to what she thinks fit to provide for dinner, insomuch that she is the high standard of comparison among the neighbouring wives a long way down Chancery Lane on both sides, and even out in Holborn, who in any domestic passages of arms habitually call upon their husbands to look at the difference between their (the wives') position and Mrs. Snagsby's, and their (the husbands') behaviour and Mr. Snagsby's.
— from Bleak House by Charles Dickens

Longinus, with respect to the diminishing power of a hyperbole, cites the following ludicrous thought from a comic poet.
— from Elements of Criticism, Volume III. by Kames, Henry Home, Lord

As always in especially difficult passages, our author here comes to our assistance.
— from Delusion and Dream : an Interpretation in the Light of Psychoanalysis of Gradiva by Sigmund Freud

As Babs read it, she pictured him sitting as he always did, perched on a high chair at the writing-table, with his legs curled under him and his nose very close to the paper; and suddenly, the deadly feeling of home-sickness she had been battling with for days came over her again.
— from The Youngest Girl in the School by Evelyn Sharp

But the most distinguishing part of all his character seems to me to be his briskness, his jollity, and his good humour; and those I have chiefly endeavoured to copy.
— from The Works of John Dryden, Now First Collected in Eighteen Volumes; Vol. 12 (of 18) by John Dryden

She manages the money, reproaches the Tax-gatherers, appoints the times and places of devotion on Sundays, licenses Mr. Snagsby's entertainments, and acknowledges no responsibility as to what she thinks fit to provide for dinner; insomuch that she is the high standard of comparison among the neighboring wives, a long way down Chancery Lane on both sides, and even out in Holborn, who, in any domestic passages of arms, habitually call upon their husbands to look at the difference between their (the wives') position and Mrs. Snagsby's, and their (the husbands') behavior and Mr. Snagsby's.
— from Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. V, No. XXV, June, 1852 by Various

As Dick peeped out around his corner, they passed the warehouse and disappeared from view.
— from Dick Kent at Half-Way House by M. M. (Milo Milton) Oblinger

Anthony’s face grew blacker and blacker, and Ada, perhaps desirous of driving him to desperation, put out all her charms for Mr Warren.
— from Thorpe Regis by Frances Mary Peard

Externally, it is composed of dried plants, of an herbaceous character, with seed vessels intact.
— from Nests and Eggs of Birds of the United States Illustrated by Thomas G. (Thomas George) Gentry