Thus our idea of gold may at first be a yellow colour, weight, malleableness, fusibility; but upon the discovery of its dissolubility in aqua regia, we join that to the other qualities, and suppose it to belong to the substance as much as if its idea had from the beginning made a part of the compound one.
— from A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume

Again the gravity—from a moral point of view—of a crime seems to be at least much reduced, if the motive be laudable, as when a man kills a villain whose crimes elude legal punishment, or heads a hopeless rebellion for the good of his country: still it would be paradoxical to affirm that we ought to reduce punishment proportionally: Common Sense would hold that—whatever God may do—men must, generally speaking, inflict severe punishment for any gravely mischievous act forbidden by law which has been intentionally done, even though it may have been prompted by a good motive.
— from The Methods of Ethics by Henry Sidgwick

It only remains to guard my argument from being understood in a more sweeping sense than it has been intended or is properly able to bear.
— from The Methods of Ethics by Henry Sidgwick

I should have told you, though, that I dressed myself in a flowered satin, that was my lady's, and looked quite fresh and good, and which was given me, at first, by my master; and the ladies, who had not seen me out of my homespun before, made me abundance of fine compliments, as soon as they saw me first.
— from Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded by Samuel Richardson

Seeing the old gentleman, my adopted “father,” Billali, emerge from his litter, I did the same, and so did Leo and Job.
— from She by H. Rider (Henry Rider) Haggard

You must swear, however that none of you will give me a foul blow to favour Irus and secure him the victory.
— from The Odyssey Rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original by Homer

Even he, seasoned [23] practitioner, condemns garum , muria , asa fœtida , because professors before him have done so, because he forgets that these very materials still form a vital part of some of his own sauces only in a different shape, form or under a different name.
— from Cookery and Dining in Imperial Rome by Apicius

“Well, we have no time to lose,” said the man, whose companion had now fastened the boat to the bank, and so wishing them good morning, and followed by the whole of his cargo, they went on their way.
— from Sybil, Or, The Two Nations by Disraeli, Benjamin, Earl of Beaconsfield

Directly after, two superintendents of the treasury came in, and M. du Vernai smilingly gave me a folio book, saying, “That, I think, M. Casanova, is your plan.”
— from The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt, 1725-1798. Complete by Giacomo Casanova

The very thought of the world outside is enough to give me a fright; because, don’t you see,” he continued, with downcast eyes watching the action of his boot busied in squashing thoroughly a tiny bit of dried mud (we were strolling on the river-bank)—“because I have not forgotten why I came here.
— from Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad

On gold sand impearl'd With lily shells, and pebbles milky white, Poor Cynthia greeted him, and sooth'd her light Against his pallid face: he felt the charm To breathlessness, and suddenly a warm Of his heart's blood: 'twas very sweet; he stay'd His wandering steps, and half-entranced laid His head upon a tuft of straggling weeds, 110 To taste the gentle moon, and freshening beads, Lashed from the crystal roof by fishes' tails.
— from Endymion: A Poetic Romance by John Keats

[458] ‘So hazardous a thing it is to meddle with Christ's sent servants.’ Life of Mr. William Guthrie, Minister at Fenwick , by the Rev. William Dunlop, reprinted in Select Biographies , vol.
— from History of Civilization in England, Vol. 3 of 3 by Henry Thomas Buckle

He thought we should not await the action of all the Southern States; but it is prudent for us to await the action of such States as Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida; because these States have requested us to wait.
— from Thirty Years' View (Vol. 2 of 2) or, A History of the Working of the American Government for Thirty Years, from 1820 to 1850 by Thomas Hart Benton

Thus our idea of gold may at first be a yellow colour, weight, malleableness, fusibility; but upon the discovery of its dissolubility in aqua regia , we join that to the other qualities, and suppose it to belong to the substance as much as if its idea had from the beginning made a part of the compound one.
— from Philosophical Works, v. 1 (of 4) Including All the Essays, and Exhibiting the More Important Alterations and Corrections in the Successive Editions Published by the Author by David Hume

Right up the hill to Dungeon Ghyll We scudded like so many rabbits; The ladies all got many a fall By tripping in their riding habits; Till, straggling up the torrent’s course, We neared the fall whose ceaseless thunder Seemed roaring hoarse, behold the force That cleft this mighty rock asunder.
— from The Old Man; or, Ravings and Ramblings round Conistone by Alexander Craig Gibson

The lion had given me a fearful blow with his paw, and had injured one of my shoulders.
— from Adventures in Africa By an African Trader by William Henry Giles Kingston

The thousand gods male and female both of the Kheta and of Egypt are called to witness.
— from The Religion of Ancient Palestine in the Second Millenium B.C. by Stanley Arthur Cook

This time he landed on the paw of the great Chief Dragon, who angrily raised his other front paw and struck the Green Monkey a fierce blow.
— from The Tin Woodman of Oz A Faithful Story of the Astonishing Adventure Undertaken by the Tin Woodman, assisted by Woot the Wanderer, the Scarecrow of Oz, and Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter by L. Frank (Lyman Frank) Baum

He was armed at all points, gallantly mounted, and followed by a moderate but well-appointed retinue: in this way he crossed the Moorish frontier, and passed slowly through the country, looking round him with the eyes of a practised warrior and carefully noting its military points and capabilities.
— from Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada, from the mss. of Fray Antonio Agapida by Washington Irving