In this work, however, there is a decided tendency (which indeed displays itself in most of the leading anthropological works, as, for example, in those by Dr. Frazer) to regard men, or at any rate primitive men, as having a mind absolutely homogeneous, and therefore as thinking, feeling, and acting in the same way under all conditions alike.
— from The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries by W. Y. (Walter Yeeling) Evans-Wentz

She ended by saying that she would like to be mine as she had been M. Morosini’s, to live with me, and only to go out under my escort, while I might allow her a monthly sum which she would hand over to her mother, who would, in that case, leave her alone.
— from The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt, 1725-1798. Complete by Giacomo Casanova

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

610 Shift your view, and turn your curiosity so as to look inwards: if you delight to study the history of evils, you have copious material at home, "as much as there is water in the Alizon, or leaves on the oak," such a quantity of faults will you find in your own life, and passions in your soul, 239 and shortcomings in your duty.
— from Plutarch's Morals by Plutarch

tell Mack and Harry about me, if they will come out here when their time is up i will get them jobs at once.
— from Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain

At last Athos spoke,— “Swear, my children, that, next to yourselves, you will respect—the King of France; and remember that 'Forty years after' we will meet again.” H2 anchor MISS MIX BY CH-L-TTE BR-NTE H2 anchor CHAPTER
— from The Luck of Roaring Camp and Other Tales With Condensed Novels, Spanish and American Legends, and Earlier Papers by Bret Harte

Yes; has not wine an effect the contrary of that which I was just now describing,—first mellowing and humanizing a man, and then filling him with confidence, making him ready to say or do anything? 'Certainly.'
— from Laws by Plato

I paddled over to the Illinois shore, and drifted down most a half a mile doing it.
— from Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

"Sir," said the least, "I was almost beat out of heart; but I thank you for lending me a hand at my need.
— from The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan Every Child Can Read by John Bunyan

He had four men, and he asked me to make a fifth.
— from Our Casualty, and Other Stories 1918 by George A. Birmingham

I employed myself thus in a manner which, I trusted, was not unprofitable, at least to the living, for about ten minutes, and having accomplished my task, I was the first to arise.
— from J. S. Le Fanu's Ghostly Tales, Volume 4 by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

They told how a great many miners were making a great deal of money, and how a much greater number were not finding any gold at all.
— from Harper's Round Table, December 31, 1895 by Various

Before departing, however, I entered into conference with the booksellers as to what they should do in the event of my finding an opportunity of sending them a stock of Testaments from Madrid; and, having arranged matters to my satisfaction, I committed myself to Providence.
— from The Bible in Spain, Vol. 2 [of 2] Or, the Journeys, Adventures, and Imprisonments of an Englishman in an Attempt to Circulate the Scriptures in the Peninsula by George Borrow

All the morning at home among my workmen.
— from Diary of Samuel Pepys — Complete 1661 N.S. by Samuel Pepys

His length from the tip of the nose to the root of the tail is commonly about four feet, and his tail measures above half as much more, being just sufficiently long to suffer its extremity to trail upon the ground.
— from The Tower Menagerie Comprising the natural history of the animals contained in that establishment; with anecdotes of their characters and history. by Edward Turner Bennett

I'm afraid I shook his hand rather more warmly than I meant, and he asked me if I'd ever tried strangling lions.
— from First Plays by A. A. (Alan Alexander) Milne

"It really doesn't pay to be like me and have a meek spirit: people only think you are a worm, and trample on you.
— from Captain Jim by Mary Grant Bruce