The precedent of the opium surrendered to Captain Elliot, the [pg 74] British Superintendent of Trade at Canton in 1839, was of course in their minds, and they acted prudently in throwing the responsibility on the authorities.
— from A Diplomat in Japan The inner history of the critical years in the evolution of Japan when the ports were opened and the monarchy restored, recorded by a diplomatist who took an active part in the events of the time, with an account of his personal experiences during that period by Ernest Mason Satow

Difficult virtuoso solos should not be written, as they attract too much attention to a particular instrument.
— from Principles of Orchestration, with Musical Examples Drawn from His Own Works by Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov

—There are no such things as [Pg 230] moral actions: they are purely imaginary.
— from The Will to Power: An Attempted Transvaluation of All Values. Book III and IV by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

And indeed as soon as she began washing her master, she at once knew the scar as one that had been given him by a wild boar when he was hunting on Mt. Parnassus with his excellent grandfather Autolycus—who was the most accomplished thief and perjurer in the whole world—and with the sons of Autolycus.
— from The Odyssey Rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original by Homer

“I should be very glad, Mr Partridge,” answered Jones, “to have it in my power to make you amends for your sufferings on my account, though at present I see no likelihood of it; however, I assure you I will deny you nothing which is in my power to grant.”
— from History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding

The accusative singular of masculines and feminines ends in -m and the accusative plural in -s .
— from Latin for Beginners by Benjamin L. (Benjamin Leonard) D'Ooge

If we consider it in point of magnificence, the great number of small doors belonging to the separate houses, the inconsiderable height of the different orders, the affected ornaments of the architrave, which are both childish and misplaced, and the areas projecting into the street, surrounded with iron rails, destroy a good part of its effect upon the eye; and, perhaps, we shall find it still more defective, if we view it in the light of convenience.
— from The Expedition of Humphry Clinker by T. (Tobias) Smollett

Slaves, who are lucky enough to have a few shillings, are sure to spend them for good eating; and many a turkey and pig is captured, without saying, "By your leave, sir."
— from Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Written by Herself by Harriet A. (Harriet Ann) Jacobs

If a man so much as touched a pig in passing, he stepped into the river with all his clothes on, to wash off the taint.
— from The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion by James George Frazer

Thus I continued to travel in much heaviness, and frequently murmured against the Almighty, particularly in his providential dealings; and, awful to think!
— from The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African Written By Himself by Olaudah Equiano

Yet here are as many men as there are people in those cities.
— from My Days and Nights on the Battle-Field by Charles Carleton Coffin

Miss Aubrey took a prodigious interest in this little school, scarce a day passing without her visiting it when she was at Yatton; and what Kate wanted, was the luxury of giving a Christmas present to both mistress and scholars.
— from Ten Thousand a-Year. Volume 1. by Samuel Warren

If the reader is already at the stage where he can maintain at once the two propositions, "Pound is merely a scholar" and "Pound is merely a yellow journalist," or the other two propositions, "Pound is merely a technician" and "Pound is merely a prophet of chaos," then there is very little hope.
— from Ezra Pound: His Metric and Poetry by T. S. (Thomas Stearns) Eliot

To do it, I steep myself as thoroughly as possible in the original work.
— from The Status Civilization by Robert Sheckley

Very rightly, therefore, he called my attention to a persecution I should have thought impossible within these walls.
— from The Human Boy and the War by Eden Phillpotts

It was nine o’clock when all who were summoned met at the church steps; and by nine o’clock, Monkshaven, in those days, was more quiet and asleep than many a town at present is at midnight.
— from Mrs. Gaskell by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

It was believed by the Pagans that he possessed marvellous power and might, and that all people in the world were subject to him.
— from The Mysteries of All Nations Rise and Progress of Superstition, Laws Against and Trials of Witches, Ancient and Modern Delusions Together with Strange Customs, Fables, and Tales by James (Archaeologist) Grant

He intended to remain longer than I did, but changed his mind, and took a place in the same diligence for St. Petersburgh.
— from Incidents of Travel in Greece, Turkey, Russia, and Poland, Vol. 2 (of 2) by John L. Stephens

CIPA defines material that is "harmful to minors" as: any picture, image, graphic image file, or other visual depiction that (i) taken as a whole and with respect to minors, appeals to a prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion; (ii) depicts, describes, or represents, in a patently offensive way with respect to what is suitable for minors, an actual or simulated sexual act or sexual contact, actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual acts, or a lewd exhibition of the genitals; and (iii) taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value as to minors.
— from Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) Ruling by United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania