One fine day, I crossed first so as to give them courage, but suddenly, when I reached the middle of the plank, it gave way under me, and there I was in the ditch, up to the chin in stinking mud, and, in spite of my inward rage, obliged, according to the general understanding, to join in the merry laughter of all my companions.
— from The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt, 1725-1798. Complete by Giacomo Casanova

In the latter, Macbeth, hurrying, in spite of much inward resistance, to the murder of Duncan, attains the crown, the upward movement being extraordinarily rapid, and the crisis arriving early: his cause then turns slowly downward, and soon hastens to ruin.
— from Shakespearean Tragedy: Lectures on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth by A. C. (Andrew Cecil) Bradley

In spite of much internal rebellion, Charlie held fast to his resolution, and Aunt Clara, finding all persuasions vain, gave in and in a state of chronic indignation against the world in general and Rose in particular, prepared to accompany him.
— from Rose in Bloom A Sequel to "Eight Cousins" by Louisa May Alcott

Germany trusts that the neutrals, who so far have submitted to the disadvantageous consequences of Great Britain's hunger war in silence, or merely in registering a protest, will display toward Germany no smaller measure of toleration, even if German measures, like those of Great Britain, present new terrors of naval warfare.
— from New York Times Current History: The European War, Vol 2, No. 1, April, 1915 April-September, 1915 by Various

I consider this conduct as such a departure from every thing that is just, fair, and honorable, and an evidence of such an incorrect state of mind in relation to Mr. Smith, that I do not think they are entitled to the respect of evidence in the examination of his case; I therefore exclude them altogether.
— from Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. 3 (of 16) by United States. Congress

In spite of myself, I recall the meals I had as a boy, the meals when there was nothing to eat but potatoes.
— from Voices from the Past by Paul Alexander Bartlett

Finally, there remains much more to be investigated touching the nature of Light which I do not pretend to have disclosed, and I shall owe much in return to him who shall be able to supplement that which is here lacking to me in knowledge.
— from Treatise on Light In which are explained the causes of that which occurs in reflexion, & in refraction and particularly in the strange refraction of Iceland crystal by Christiaan Huygens

45:24 Only in Yahweh, it is said of me, is righteousness and strength; even to him shall men come; and all those who were incensed against him shall be disappointed.
— from The World English Bible (WEB), Complete by Anonymous

Once more the grub backs into its shell: once more it returns, bringing a second clod, which is prepared and used in the same manner.
— from The Glow-Worm and Other Beetles by Jean-Henri Fabre

It claims that its system of morals is revealed and perfect; and not only this, but also that good morals are out of the question unless we believe in the Christian religion.
— from Crimes of Preachers in the United States and Canada by M. E. Billings

" "It is no more blasphemous than that thing which is swiping our meat," I replied, for whatever the thing was, it had leaped upon our deer and was devouring it in great mouthfuls which it swallowed without mastication.
— from The Land That Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs