On the contrary, there is a kind of aristocratic refinement and an air of grandeur in the depravity of the great, which frequently prevent it from spreading abroad.
— from Democracy in America — Volume 1 by Alexis de Tocqueville

Among the social sciences the need for psychological interpretation first manifested itself in the studies of language and mythology.
— from Introduction to the Science of Sociology by E. W. (Ernest Watson) Burgess

When I returned to my filthy prison I found a clean arm-chair, which I was informed had been brought in for me.
— from The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt, 1725-1798. Complete by Giacomo Casanova

Meriones took aim at him with a spear, nor did he fail to hit the broad orb of ox-hide; but he was far from piercing it for the spear broke in two pieces long ere he could do so; moreover Deiphobus had seen it coming and had held his shield well away from him.
— from The Iliad by Homer

: irkesum , fastidiosus , Prompt.; irkesumnesse , fastidium , Prompt.
— from A Concise Dictionary of Middle English from A.D. 1150 to 1580 by A. L. (Anthony Lawson) Mayhew

Then a set of feelings pour in from many bodily parts, all 'expressive' of my emotion, and the head-feelings proper are swallowed up in this larger mass.
— from The Principles of Psychology, Volume 1 (of 2) by William James

He devised a new style of building in the city, ordering piazzas to be erected before all houses, both in the streets and detached, to give facilities from their terraces, in case of fire, for preventing it from spreading; and these he built at his own expense.
— from The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Complete by Suetonius

Aristocracy, by maintaining society in a fixed position, is favorable to the solidity and duration of positive religions, as well as to the stability of political institutions.
— from Democracy in America — Volume 2 by Alexis de Tocqueville

Young gentlemen thus glazed and varnished, French -polished, in fact, from top to toe, might glitter in the sun like beetles; or adopt, if they preferred it, as being better adapted for lady-catching, the more sombre guise of the spider.
— from Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 1, August 7, 1841 by Various

In my opinion the arranging of strokes to be given and received in foursome play is far too delicate and complicated.
— from The Complete Golfer by Harry Vardon

On the other hand, one of the very best of Miss Edgeworth's too much neglected stories, "L'Amie Inconnue" not only may be useful as a warning to the too open-hearted but has probably had not a few parallels in fact.
— from A Letter Book Selected with an Introduction on the History and Art of Letter-Writing by George Saintsbury

O'ermatched, he then for peace is fain to sue; Nor long survives, nor he who fills his place; To Berengarius yielding his domains, Who, repossest of all his kingdom, reigns.
— from Orlando Furioso by Lodovico Ariosto

Strong support for the theory enunciated in this essay, and defended in the foregoing paragraphs, is furnished by the testimonies of two travellers in Hungary, given in works published in 1878 and 1888 respectively.
— from Essays: Scientific, Political, & Speculative; Vol. 2 of 3 Library Edition (1891), Containing Seven Essays not before Republished, and Various other Additions. by Herbert Spencer

He quickly picked a handful of grass, the softest he could find, placed it firmly over and round the wound, then tore off a piece of the dead Wihtwara's tunic, and bound the arm tightly up.
— from Cædwalla; or, The Saxons in the Isle of Wight: A Tale by Frank Cadogan Cowper

We must achieve a more rigorous administration of our development assistance, with larger roles for private investors, for other industrialized nations, and for international agencies and for the recipient nations themselves.
— from State of the Union Addresses (1790-2006) by United States. Presidents

that shame’—a faux pas in fact.
— from Letters from Egypt by Duff Gordon, Lucie, Lady

But memory of the queer little scene stuck in my mind, and I could not forbear pondering it fitfully.
— from At a Winter's Fire by Bernard Edward Joseph Capes

Thou thinkest, perhaps, the one who wears a mantle grave like a funeral pall is far above such senseless
— from Fairy Tales From all Nations by Anthony R. (Anthony Reubens) Montalba