If we are to avoid a perfectly gratuitous assumption, we must dispense with the subject as one of the actual ingredients of the world.
— from The Analysis of Mind by Bertrand Russell

[ A great and wise man, if he is the same person to whom Cicero’s letters on the calamities of the times were addressed.
— from The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Complete by Suetonius

In the afternoon Mr. Pett and I met at the office; there being none more there than we two I saw there was not the reverence due to us observed, and so I took occasion to break up and took Mr. Gawdon along with me, and he and I (though it rained) were resolved to go, he to my Lord Treasurer’s and I to the Chancellor’s with a letter from my Lord to-day.
— from The Diary of Samuel Pepys — Complete by Samuel Pepys

I said: Until philosophers are kings, or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy, and D political greatness and wisdom meet in one, and those 171 commoner natures who pursue either to the exclusion of the other are compelled to stand aside, cities will never have rest from their evils,—nor the human race, as I believe,—and then only will this E our State have a possibility of life and behold the light of day.
— from The Republic of Plato by Plato

[Pg 247] portions of the day and night, in the space of 365 days, necessary to complete the annual period; and, at that time, the length of the year was unknown to the Greeks, as were many other things, until later astronomers received them from the persons who translated the records of the priests into the Greek language, and even now derive knowledge from their writings and from those of the Chaldeans.
— from The Geography of Strabo, Volume 3 (of 3) Literally Translated, with Notes by Strabo

103.] Magicians are no very good authority with me.
— from Essays of Michel de Montaigne — Complete by Michel de Montaigne

Although monarchical in government, and with much real power in the king's hands, the latter was not able to direct the policy of the kingdom wholly at his will.
— from The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783 by A. T. (Alfred Thayer) Mahan

A survey of families among primitive peoples by Hobhouse, Ginsberg, and Wheeler makes the point that even family life is most varied upon the lower levels of culture, and that the historical development of the family with any people must be studied in relation to the physical and social environment.
— from Introduction to the Science of Sociology by E. W. (Ernest Watson) Burgess

The abbot rejoiced in his happy fortunes and together with him, rendered thanks to God, after which Messer Torello asked him who was his lady's new husband.
— from The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio by Giovanni Boccaccio

In the winter we had had no trouble about a fire, for the stoves were going, and we made our mulligan and boiled water for tea on them.
— from Three Times and Out Told by Private Simmons, Written by Nellie L. McClung by Mervin C. Simmons

"Why don't you get angry with me?" she queried ruefully.
— from Smoke Bellew by Jack London

I dined at home, and from thence went to Will's to Shaw, who promised me to go along with me to Atkinson's about some money, but I found him at cards with Spicer and D. Vines, and could not get him along with me.
— from Diary of Samuel Pepys — Complete 1660 N.S. by Samuel Pepys

They seldom go abroad with Men; they have all the Charge of Houshold Affairs, and their greatest Employment within Doors, is usually uncasing and drying of Nutmegs.
— from The Discovery and Conquest of the Molucco and Philippine Islands. Containing their History, Ancient and Modern, Natural and Political: Their Description, Product, Religion, Government, Laws, Languages, Customs, Manners, Habits, Shape, and Inclinations of the Natives. With an Account of many other adjacent Islands, and several remarkable Voyages through the Streights of Magellan, and in other Parts. by Bartolomé Leonardo de Argensola

As soon as Rahab understood that these messengers were coming, she hid the spies under stalks of flax, which were laid to dry on the top of her house; and said to the messengers that were sent by the king, that certain unknown strangers had supped with her a little before sun-setting, and were gone away, who might easily be taken, if they were any terror to the city, or likely to bring any danger to the king.
— from Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus

Kenneth regretted that he had left his revolver upstairs, but the others remembered that the brigand would not dare to molest them in the security of the hotel grounds, and were more curious than afraid.
— from Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad by L. Frank (Lyman Frank) Baum

Of works of this kind, by far the best I have met with is Mr. Edmund Sharpe’s, on Decorated Windows, which seems to me, as far as a cursory glance can enable me to judge, to exhaust the subject as respects English Gothic; and which may be recommended to the readers who are interested in the subject, as containing a clear and masterly enunciation of the general principles by which the design of tracery has been regulated, from its first development to its final degradation.
— from The Stones of Venice, Volume 1 (of 3) by John Ruskin

" For he who guides a wagon must walk far otherwise than if he were walking alone; when alone he may walk, jump, and do as he will; but when he drives, he must so guide and adapt himself that the wagon and horses can follow him, and regard that more than his own will.
— from A Treatise on Good Works by Martin Luther

"He's getting a woman mixed up in his affairs, is he?
— from The Short Cut by Jackson Gregory