The bee erecting its hive, the swallow building its nest, the ant constructing its cave, and the spider warping its web, would never have done anything but for a previous and everlasting revelation.
— from The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt, 1725-1798. Complete by Giacomo Casanova

When it is told that such phrases as "my foolish father," "my swinish son," "my awkward self," etc., are in current use, is not the answer clear enough?
— from Bushido, the Soul of Japan by Inazo Nitobe

And if they prevail, then they come forth and cease from their troubles; but if not, they are carried back again into Tartarus and from thence into the rivers unceasingly, until they obtain mercy from those whom they have wronged: for that is the sentence inflicted upon them by their judges.
— from Phaedo by Plato

For this reason Pyotr Petrovitch intended to go into the subject as soon as he reached Petersburg and, if necessary, to anticipate contingencies by seeking the favour of “our younger generation.”
— from Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Is it not, to a certain degree, a delusion in us as well as in women?'
— from Boswell's Life of Johnson Abridged and edited, with an introduction by Charles Grosvenor Osgood by James Boswell

Then all was bustle in Nottingham Town and crowds filled the streets, for all knew that the famous Will Stutely was to be hanged that day.
— from The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle

At the confluence of the Kuhari, the Sind, and the Chambal, there is a colony of this race, which has given its name to a commune of twenty-four villages, besides hamlets, situated amidst the ravines of these streams.
— from Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, v. 1 of 3 or the Central and Western Rajput States of India by James Tod

Italy was once lord of the world, Rome the queen of cities, vaunted herself of two [3734] myriads of inhabitants; now that all-commanding country is possessed by petty princes, [3735]
— from The Anatomy of Melancholy by Robert Burton

It was perfectly useless to suggest to the father (as some of Zack’s maternal relatives did suggest to him), that the son was originally descended from Eve, and was consequently possessed of an hereditary tendency to pluck at forbidden fruit; and that his disposition and age made it next to a certainty, that if he were restrained from enjoying openly the amusements most attractive to him, he would probably end in enjoying them by stealth.
— from Hide and Seek by Wilkie Collins

We believe, however, that this loss is not attributable to any defects of the paper itself, nor to any circumstance whatsoever under our control, but rather to general causes, such as the continued and exhausting depression of the business interests of the country, change in the habits of our people, increase of good secular papers, and
— from American Lutheranism Volume 2: The United Lutheran Church (General Synod, General Council, United Synod in the South) by F. (Friedrich) Bente

I now think and consult to-day what I shall eat to-morrow.
— from Life of Johnson, Volume 4 1780-1784 by James Boswell

He will not come in this storm--there! Is not that a carriage rolling into the yard?
— from Boris Lensky by Ossip Schubin

Have ready a thin syrup; then drain and wipe dry the quarters, put them into the sugar, and let them simmer a quarter of an hour; the next day boil them up again, and so on for three days; then take them out, and add to the syrup some mountain wine, a little brandy, and more sugar; clarify it, and boil it nearly to a candied height, put the melons into it and boil them five minutes; then put them in glasses, and cover them close with bladder and leather.
— from The Art of Cookery Made Easy and Refined by John Mollard

"There is nothing that anyone can do.
— from Tragedies of the White Slave by H. M. Lytle

Sometimes no more is needed than a change in the windows or in the electric lamps, by which the light can fall on the work in a psychologically satisfactory way; sometimes long series of experiments have to be made with a simple hammer or knife or table.
— from Psychology and Industrial Efficiency by Hugo Münsterberg

Is not that a common misfortune among caged birds?
— from L'Arrabiata and Other Tales by Paul Heyse

Is not, this a curious case of testamentary right; human greed obliterating personal identity itself? Belleisle had a great deal of difficulty, keeping the Termagant back till things were ripe.
— from History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 12 by Thomas Carlyle

An accomplice is used by the Government because his evidence is necessary to a conviction.
— from The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 10 (of 12) Dresden Edition—Legal by Robert Green Ingersoll