The greatest emperors and the most illustrious kings have, with well nigh none other art than that of slaying, not one man, as thou wouldst have done, but an infinite multitude of men, and burning countries and razing cities, enlarged their realms and consequently their fame; wherefore, an thou wouldst, to make thyself more famous, have slain me only, thou diddest no new nor extraordinary thing, but one much used.' Mithridanes, without holding himself excused of his perverse design, commended the honourable excuse found by Nathan and came, in course of converse with him, to say that he marvelled beyond measure how he could have brought himself to meet his death and have gone so far as even to give him means and counsel to that end; whereto quoth Nathan, 'Mithridanes, I would not have thee marvel at my resolution nor at the counsel I gave thee, for that, since I have been mine own master and have addressed myself to do that same thing which thou hast undertaken to do, there came never any to my house
— from The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio by Giovanni Boccaccio

Ethics, however, must also consider the conditions under which what ought to happen frequently does not.
— from Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals by Immanuel Kant

A man, the emperor Has courted above Kelly; sent his medals And chains, to invite him. DOL.
— from The Alchemist by Ben Jonson

But Dorimachus, becoming conscious of his danger, rallied his men and charged the citizens who were occupying the citadel: imagining that, by acting with decision and boldness, he would terrify and turn to flight those who had rallied to defend the town.
— from The Histories of Polybius, Vol. 1 (of 2) by Polybius

When the interests of one country interfere with those of another, we estimate the merits of a statesman by the good or ill, which results to his own country from his measures and councils, without regard to the prejudice which he brings on its enemies and rivals.
— from An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals by David Hume

Her mouth and chin were (to quote Mr. Franklin) morsels for the gods; and her complexion (on the same undeniable authority) was as warm as the sun itself, with this great advantage over the sun, that it was always in nice order to look at.
— from The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

Who, when he makes a choice, says, Thus I choose, because I am necessitated?
— from The Last Man by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

He made a complete voluntary confession.
— from The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

He looked at his mother and could not understand how she had come by that respectfulness, that timid expression of face: what was it for?
— from Project Gutenberg Compilation of 233 Short Stories of Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

Spite of the many endeavors he made to appear smiling and good humored, a deep rage kept its station round his mouth, and contracted his lips even in the midst of the artificial smile with which he sought to dissimulate his wrath.
— from Memoirs of the Comtesse Du Barry With Minute Details of Her Entire Career as Favorite of Louis XV by Lamothe-Langon, Etienne-Léon, baron de

He seemed to have made a complete recovery, for which she was profoundly thankful.
— from Rosa Mundi and Other Stories by Ethel M. (Ethel May) Dell

Either there should be some side-action of mirth to make it less intense, or of tragedy to render it less photographic; and unless, Dr. Marmion, you would consent to be solemn, which would indeed be droll; or that The Padre there—how amusing they should call him that!—should cease to be serious, which, being so very unusual, would be tragic, I do not know how we are to tell the artist that he has missed a chance of immortalising himself.”
— from Mrs. Falchion, Complete by Gilbert Parker

did not select any but those whom he thought the most virtuous and moral of men for his Ministers and counsellors; and where did their virtues and morality bring him?
— from Complete Project Gutenberg Collection of Memoirs of Napoleon by Various

A strange and unanalysed sense of secrecy had fallen upon them; Gloria whispered, "Good-night, Mark," and then calling, "Here I am, mamma; just cooling off," she went skipping down the porch, slipped her arm about her mother, and carried her back into the house.
— from The Everlasting Whisper by Jackson Gregory

Taking out her purse, Madame Gabrielle handed me a coin, and, as she did so, swung her sunshade round so as to interpose it directly between the “Italian” and myself.
— from Sant of the Secret Service: Some Revelations of Spies and Spying by William Le Queux

He made a crude lean-to for Pam, to reflect back the warmth of the fire upon her.
— from The Wailing Asteroid by Murray Leinster

She lamented to Lord Baudesert Eleanor's hardness of heart toward the other sex, and Lord Baudesert was lauding the unexpected good sense of the three Vereker girls, each one of whom had married a curate, and could not expect to do any better.
— from The Whirl: A Romance of Washington Society by Foxcroft Davis

If the other fellows had but stuck by us as well, we'd have made a clean sweep of the canting dogs.
— from Under the Storm by Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary) Yonge