“Then is it your opinion,” I inquired, with some little indignation, “that a man should never—” “—Invest portable property in a friend?” said Wemmick.
— from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Ne treccie d'oro, ne guancia vermiglia M' abbaglian si, ma sotto nova idea Pellegrina bellezza che'l cuor bea, Portamenti alti honesti, e nelle ciglia Quel sereno fulgor d' amabil nero, Parole adorne di lingua piu d'una, 10 E'l cantar che di mezzo l'hemispero Traviar ben puo la faticosa Luna, E degil occhi suoi auventa si gran fuoco Che l 'incerar gli oreechi mi fia poco.
— from The Poetical Works of John Milton by John Milton

My task, let me say now, is practically narrow, and my words are to deal only with that metaphysical tedium vitae which is peculiar to { 39} reflecting men.
— from The Will to Believe, and Other Essays in Popular Philosophy by William James

On the same principle I must deprecate any feeling of surprise if, in the succeeding portions of my history, I pass over other similar topics, which might seem naturally in place, for the same reasons.
— from The Histories of Polybius, Vol. 1 (of 2) by Polybius

And there is nothing more evident than that, for the most part, in the framing these ideas, the mind searches not its patterns in nature, nor refers the ideas it makes to the real existence of things, but puts such together as may best serve its own purposes, without tying itself to a precise imitation of anything that really exists.
— from An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding, Volume 2 MDCXC, Based on the 2nd Edition, Books 3 and 4 by John Locke

The reader is here to survey a character of such eminent and various goodness as might demand veneration, and inspire him with a desire of imitating it too, had it appeared in the obscurest rank; but it will surely command some peculiar regard, when viewed in so elevated and important a station, especially as it shone, not in ecclesiastical, but military life, where the temptations are so many, and the prevalence of the contrary character so great, that it may seem no inconsiderable praise and felicity to be free from dissolute vice, and to retain what in most other professions might be esteemed only a mediocrity of virtue .
— from The Life of Col. James Gardiner Who Was Slain at the Battle of Prestonpans, September 21, 1745 by Philip Doddridge

Now, missus, why can't ye sit still and listen to me, 'stead o' pottering after pans and what not?' said he, speaking crossly to his wife, who had heard the story scores of times, and, it must be confessed, was making some noise in preparing bread and milk for Sylvia's supper.
— from Sylvia's Lovers — Volume 1 by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

This was not an unusual occurrence, yet this morning she noted it particularly.
— from Beulah by Augusta J. (Augusta Jane) Evans

However, everyone who realizes the extreme need for a swift and orderly reconversion must feel a deep concern about the number of major strikes now in progress.
— from State of the Union Addresses by Harry S. Truman