There is no reason for an upright statesman either to be over anxious for luxuries or to despise necessaries.
— from Plutarch's Lives, Volume 1 (of 4) by Plutarch

He often begins to say something, then leaves the thought in suspense, meanwhile thrusting in between, 48 in a position apparently foreign and unnatural, some extraneous matters, one upon another, and having thus made his hearers fear lest the whole discourse should break down, and forced them into eager sympathy with the danger of the speaker, when he is nearly at the end of a period he adds just at the right moment, i.e. when it is least expected, the point which they have been waiting for so long.
— from On the Sublime by active 1st century Longinus

"We are so weak," said C. C. Pinckney, "that by ourselves we could not form a union strong enough for the purpose of effectually protecting each other.
— from James Madison by Sydney Howard Gay

1] (202) 797-8518; FAX: [1] (202) 797-8521 Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Chief of Mission Jonathan D. FARRAR; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado, Havana; telephone:
— from The 2009 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency

As a matter of fact we had been at harder work than any of us had been accustomed to, for very long hours, beneath a scorching sun, without food, and under strong excitement.
— from Gold by Stewart Edward White

I know that it has been proposed by enthusiastic, but not too practical, reformers to do away with parties by some legerdemain of governmental reconstruction, accompanied and supplemented by some rehabilitation, devoutly to be wished, of the virtues least commonly controlling in fallen human nature; but it seems to me that it would be more difficult and less desirable than these amiable persons suppose to conduct a government of the many by means of any other device than party organization, and that the great need is, not to get rid of parties, but to find and use some expedient by which they can be managed and made amenable from day to day to public opinion.
— from Congressional Government: A Study in American Politics by Woodrow Wilson

On the other inmates of the mansion her influence soon began to be felt; for almost unconsciously she exercised her rare and subtle power of introducing a finer element into the lives of those who were growing sordid and material.
— from Without a Home by Edward Payson Roe

Then Drumtochty became self-conscious, and went home in confusion of face and unbroken silence, except Jamie Soutar, who faced his neighbors at the parting of the ways without shame.
— from A Doctor of the Old School — Complete by Ian Maclaren

Better that John Marchmont should have lived for ever, better that Edward Arundel should die far away upon some Eastern battle-field, before some Affghan fortress, than that he should return to inflict upon her the same tortures she had writhed under two years before.
— from John Marchmont's Legacy, Volume 1 (of 3) by M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon

"It was all my fault, as usual," she explained, "but there is nothing the matter with me except a bruise on my forehead and an empty feeling in another [160] place."
— from The Ranch Girls' Pot of Gold by Margaret Vandercook