Where no promise is given, a man looks not on his faith as broken in private matters, upon account of rebellion; but keeps those two duties of honour and allegiance perfectly distinct and separate.
— from A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume

François , a baker in Paris, murdered in the street by a mob, because the return of the king had not lessened the price of bread.
— from The Every Day Book of History and Chronology Embracing the Anniversaries of Memorable Persons and Events in Every Period and State of the World, from the Creation to the Present Time by Joel Munsell

As the waves roll forward and backward in perpetual motion, so our hearts are stirred by never-ending pain and trouble, and as our emotions sway our will, so our senses suffer change within us.
— from The Renascence of Hebrew Literature (1743-1885) by Nahum Slouschz

The small FLOWERS are borne in panicles much less compact than those of other sumacs.
— from Forest Trees of Texas: How to Know Them by C. B. (Cyril Bertram) Webster

The time might easily have been reduced into the space of twenty-four hours, if I would have omitted the scene of [198] famine in the fifth act; but it pleased me to try how Spartans could endure it; and, besides, gave me the occasion of writing that other scene, betwixt Cleomenes and his suspected friend; and, in such a case, it is better to trespass on a rule, than leave out a beauty.
— from Dryden's Works Vol. 08 (of 18) by John Dryden

Delaunay, Louis Arsène , a great French actor, born in Paris; made his début in 1846, retired 1887.
— from The Nuttall Encyclopædia Being a Concise and Comprehensive Dictionary of General Knowledge by P. Austin Nuttall

The kinetoscope, as at present exhibited under various unpleasing names, is imperfect in two ways: first because it is powerless to reproduce colour, and secondly because it gives at best a mere magic-lantern picture violently out of focus, and by its pulsatory motion horribly distressing to the eyes.
— from A Hundred Years Hence: The Expectations of an Optimist by T. Baron Russell

“For any boy I put money-making in the first place.
— from Windy McPherson's Son by Sherwood Anderson