This relevance to given experience and its objects is what cuts those myths off from their blameless and gratuitous rôle of reporting experiences that might be going on merrily enough somewhere else in the universe.
— from The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress by George Santayana

As I poured words to this effect out on the astonished widow, I stood over her, and fascinated her with the glance of my eye; saw her turn red and pale with fear and wonder; saw that my praise of her charms and the exposition of my passion were not unwelcome to her, and witnessed with triumphant composure the mastery I was gaining over her.
— from Barry Lyndon by William Makepeace Thackeray

These men were guilty of many extravagances, such as one would think human nature should have trembled at the thoughts of at such a time of general terror as was then upon us, and particularly scoffing and mocking at everything which they happened to see that was religious among the people, especially at their thronging zealously to the place of public worship to implore mercy from Heaven in such a time of distress; and this tavern where they held their dub being within view of the church-door, they had the more particular occasion for their atheistical profane mirth.
— from A Journal of the Plague Year Written by a Citizen Who Continued All the While in London by Daniel Defoe

What will the grandees of my empire say, if they see me taken prisoner?"
— from The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo, Vol 1 (of 2) Written by Himself Containing a True and Full Account of the Discovery and Conquest of Mexico and New Spain. by Bernal Díaz del Castillo

After the growth, or, more exactly speaking, the development in length and bulk has terminated, man enters into what I call the period of invigoration—that is, when all our parts become more complete and firm, our functions more assured, and the whole
— from The Life and Adventures of Ben Hogan, the Wickedest Man in the World by Ben (Benedict) Hogan

But at last she found and pulled back the latch, and when the white gleam of moonlight entered she retreated timidly behind the door.
— from A Mummer's Wife by George Moore

As they passed the gate other men entered, starved and hungry-looking men, whose bones almost pierced their skins, and who carried in their hands remnants of shields that looked as though they had been gnawed by rats.
— from The Ghost Kings by H. Rider (Henry Rider) Haggard

Supplicat frater Walterus Goodfylde, ordinis minorum et sacre theologie baccalarius, quatenus 4 or responsiones in nouis scolis cum introitu biblie, vna cum sermone examinatorio,
— from The Grey Friars in Oxford by A. G. (Andrew George) Little

Surely she must be ignorant to talk about her squalid affairs to a gentleman of Mr. Eden's standing after meeting him in our house!
— from Fan : The Story of a Young Girl's Life by W. H. (William Henry) Hudson

They spoke in the opera house at New Decatur, and were the guests of Mrs. E. S. Hildreth.
— from The Life and Work of Susan B. Anthony (Volume 2 of 2) Including Public Addresses, Her Own Letters and Many From Her Contemporaries During Fifty Years by Ida Husted Harper