The well-known case of a bright light causing some persons to sneeze is even more curious; for nerve-force here radiates from certain nerve-cells in connection with the retina, to the sensory nerve-cells of the nose, causing it to tickle; and from these, to the cells which command the various respiratory muscles (the orbiculars included) which expel the air in so peculiar a manner that it rushes through the nostrils alone.
— from The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals by Charles Darwin

A harmony in appearance only, one that touches the springs of nothing and has no power to propagate itself, is so partial and momentary a good that we may justly call it an illusion.
— from The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress by George Santayana

Even in so personal a matter as the letter to an absent member of one's immediate family, it should be borne in mind, not to write needlessly of misfortune or unhappiness.
— from Etiquette by Emily Post

“If I am to lodge with anyone, I should prefer a man of studious and quiet habits.
— from A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

But king Agrippa, who now lived at Rome, was more and more in the favor of Caius; and when he had once made him a supper, and was careful to exceed all others, both in expenses and in such preparations as might contribute most to his pleasure; nay, it was so far from the ability of others, that Caius himself could never equal, much less exceed it [such care had he taken beforehand to exceed all men, and particularly to make all agreeable to Cæsar]; hereupon Caius admired his understanding and magnificence, that he should force himself to do all to please him, even beyond such expenses as he could bear, and was desirous not to be behind Agrippa in that generosity which he exerted in order to please him.
— from Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus

The Indian Lords and Subjects gave them a Debonair and Brotherly Reception, serving them with wonderful Alacrity, furnishing them with dayly Provisions in so plentiful a manner, that they might have sufficed a more numerous Company; for it is the Mode among Indians of this New World, to supply the Spaniards very bountifuly with all manner of Necessaries.
— from A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies Or, a faithful NARRATIVE OF THE Horrid and Unexampled Massacres, Butcheries, and all manner of Cruelties, that Hell and Malice could invent, committed by the Popish Spanish Party on the inhabitants of West-India, TOGETHER With the Devastations of several Kingdoms in America by Fire and Sword, for the space of Forty and Two Years, from the time of its first Discovery by them. by Bartolomé de las Casas

“The count is suffering physically and mentally, and apparently you have done your best to increase his mental sufferings.”
— from War and Peace by Tolstoy, Leo, graf

Alike in stature, port, and mien, The same fair form in each is seen,” He spoke; and at the monarch's call The best of hermits told him all, How in the grove with him they dwelt, And slaughter to the demons dealt.
— from The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse by Valmiki

I saw Palmer about midday of Wednesday, the second day of the Shrewsbury races.
— from The Most Extraordinary Trial of William Palmer, for the Rugeley Poisonings, which lasted Twelve Days by Anonymous

in surveyed country, and without much difficulty I could identify such points as Mount Dockrell, the Lubbock Range, McClintock Range, and others, and was pleased to find that after all our wanderings we had come out where I had intended, and in a general way had followed the line I had pencilled on the chart before starting.
— from Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years' Pioneering and Exploration in Western Ausralia by David Wynford Carnegie

How now?—This is some plot against me!
— from The Bacchae of Euripides by Euripides

In consequence of the unprecedented interconnection of modern industry, the sum of conditions needed to be known for its successful guidance have so immensely increased that rational calculation is scarcely possible, and men are enriched without any merit, and impoverished without any fault.
— from Contemporary Socialism by John Rae

Cut cold cooked fish into small pieces and mix with chopped hard-boiled eggs, a few sliced olives, capers and gherkins.
— from 365 Foreign Dishes A Foreign Dish for Every Day in the Year by Unknown

It would be much safer if she passed as my sister or even my wife, or perhaps both at turns, according to circumstances.
— from The Man Without a Memory by Arthur W. Marchmont

After Mr. B. had finished his remarks, Mr. S. Shands, member of assembly, and a wealthy proprietor, observed that he entertained precisely the same views with those just expressed; but he thought that the honorable gentleman had been unwise in uttering them in so public a manner; "for," said he, "should these sentiments reach the ear of parliament, as coming from us, it might induce them to withhold the compensation ."
— from The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Part 2 of 4 by American Anti-Slavery Society