We can know, for example, that the earth and moon and sun are in one straight line during an eclipse, though we cannot know what a physical straight line is in itself, as we know the look of a straight line in our visual space.
— from The Problems of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell

They have no other reason for existence than to explain existing practices; they are only another aspect of these.
— from The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life by Émile Durkheim

we saw, during the time of a late general election, exhibiting in conspicuous painted characters, the following exhortation: "To the Electors of the Dominion—Put in Powell's Pump"—a humorous advertisement, of course, of a particular contrivance for raising water from the depths.
— from Toronto of Old Collections and recollections illustrative of the early settlement and social life of the capital of Ontario by Henry Scadding

For example, take the eel-pout.
— from Project Gutenberg Compilation of 233 Short Stories of Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

But while all this is true, while the failure of Napoleon's combinations must be attributed to the tenacious grip of the English blockade off Brest, as well as to Nelson's energetic pursuit of the Toulon fleet when it escaped to the West Indies and again on its hasty return to Europe, the latter is fairly entitled to the eminent distinction which history has accorded it, and which is asserted in the text.
— from The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783 by A. T. (Alfred Thayer) Mahan

But nothing is more pernicious than similar instances of favor exhibited to the eyes of a democratic people: they give the last impulse to the public mind in a direction where everything hurries it onwards.
— from Democracy in America — Volume 2 by Alexis de Tocqueville

You don’t come here, continued the captain, to uphold ‘em in their folly; you have no commission from ‘em to this effect; well then, we will talk no more on’t.
— from Gargantua and Pantagruel by François Rabelais

He accomplished this by taking my order for examination to the examining officer and representing himself as John Carter.
— from A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs

The carriages rolled off; at about halfway from Ems, the two empty ones were to wait for the walking party.
— from Vivian Grey by Disraeli, Benjamin, Earl of Beaconsfield

Having now finished six volumes of this History, without attaining a lower point than the peace of Nikias, in the tenth year of the Peloponnesian war,—I find myself compelled to retract the expectation held out in the preface to my First Edition, that the entire work might be completed in eight volumes.
— from History of Greece, Volume 01 (of 12) by George Grote

Either he did or he did not know that Plutarch in other writings had given full expression to the ethic of brotherly love.
— from The Historical Jesus: A Survey of Positions by J. M. (John Mackinnon) Robertson

This report, in which M. Carnot did not totally conceal the apprehensions, with which the progress of that spirit of insubordination and demagogism, manifested by certain members of the chamber, inspired the Emperor and the nation, was immediately followed by one from the Duke of Vicenza, on the menacing dispositions of foreign powers, and the fruitless efforts, that the Emperor had made, to bring them to moderate and pacific sentiments.
— from Memoirs of the Private Life, Return, and Reign of Napoleon in 1815, Vol. II by Fleury de Chaboulon, Pierre Alexandre Édouard, baron

Hunting the otter in Somerset is one thing, exterminating them in the Thames another, and I cannot but feel a sense of deep regret when I hear of fresh efforts towards this end.
— from The Life of the Fields by Richard Jefferies

Each community certainly retained in form its own law: down to the time of the Social war Latin law was not necessarily identical with Roman: we find, for example, that the enforcing of betrothal by action at law, which was abolished at an early period in Rome, continued to subsist in the Latin communities.
— from The History of Rome (Volumes 1-5) by Theodor Mommsen

Yet it is evident that there have been times of decline, just as there have been times of advance; and it is further evident that these epochs of decline could not at first have been generally recognized.
— from Progress and Poverty, Volumes I and II An Inquiry into the Cause of Industrial Depressions and of Increase of Want with Increase of Wealth by Henry George

I desire to call your attention to some examples of special ability, which are familiar enough to the experience of most of you to be accepted without argument.
— from How to Become Rich: A Treatise on Phrenology, Choice of Professions and Matrimony by William Windsor