The natural and rational gauge and measure of respectability, the commonly accepted standards being artificial, arbitrary and fallacious; for, as "Sir Sycophas Chrysolater" in the play has justly remarked, "the true use and function of property (in whatsoever it consisteth—coins, or land, or houses, or merchant-stuff, or anything which may be named as holden of right to one's own subservience) as also of honors, titles, preferments and place, and all favor and acquaintance of persons of quality or ableness, are but to get money.
— from The Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce

Not only in your relation with aliens but with the different sections of your own society you have not achieved harmony of reconciliation.
— from Nationalism by Rabindranath Tagore

Once or twice Delandre tried to stop Brent on the road, and, at last, finding that he could not attain his object rode after the carriage, calling out: 'What has become of my sister, your wife?'
— from Dracula's Guest by Bram Stoker

The sauces to go with it were unusually varied and delicate—” “Permit me, your Excellency, it seems to me you are not so careful either in the selection of reading matter,” interrupted the first Official, who secured the Gazette again and started to read: “One of the oldest inhabitants of Viatka has discovered a new and highly original recipe for fish soup; A live codfish ( lota vulgaris ) is taken and beaten with a rod until its liver swells up with anger...” The Officials’ heads drooped.
— from Project Gutenberg Compilation of 233 Short Stories of Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

At various times the baron occupied or owned Chantepleurs, a chateau Nivernais, a house on rue du Bac, and La Crampade, Louis de l'Estorate's residence in Provence.
— from Repertory of The Comedie Humaine, Complete, A — Z by Anatole Cerfberr

The posture, indeed, in which he stood, was not greatly unlike that of a soldier who is tied neck and heels; or rather resembling the attitude in which we often see fellows in the public streets of London, who are not suffering but deserving punishment by so standing.
— from History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding

“If she is not a heroine of romance,” he was thinking to himself, “she is a young and fresh and very pretty girl.
— from Pan Tadeusz Or, the Last Foray in Lithuania; a Story of Life Among Polish Gentlefolk in the Years 1811 and 1812 by Adam Mickiewicz

The nations always have our respect and our sympathy.
— from Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

I was seized with an irresistible desire of knowing the particulars of his fate, and enjoyed not an hour of repose during the whole night, by reason of the eager conceptions that inspired me with regard to his story, which I resolved (if possible) to learn.
— from The Adventures of Roderick Random by T. (Tobias) Smollett

What he said of the South assumed that the people were in poverty and were so dejected that they had no plans for the future, nor any hopes of restoration to wealth, happiness and power in the affairs of the country.
— from Reminiscences of Sixty Years in Public Affairs, Vol. 2 by George S. (George Sewall) Boutwell

In the course of his walk, Luis reached a hill, on which had stood the church of Santa Catarina, now a heap of ruins.
— from The Prime Minister by William Henry Giles Kingston

The difference between Helen's name and her ornamental raiment gave him pleasure in the name.
— from Helen with the High Hand (2nd ed.) by Arnold Bennett

At first, Henrik said nothing about his own religious faith, but after a time he spoke of the subject to one of his girl cousins.
— from Added Upon A Story by Nephi Anderson

You cannot tell at first whether they are tiny objects near at hand or remote masses.
— from The Alps by Conway, William Martin, Sir

Her mind was in a wild tumult, but she would not allow herself one rational thought.
— from What Can She Do? by Edward Payson Roe

The edifice, which was almost as large as the town itself, became a workhouse, and is now a home of refuge for seven or [Pg 10] eight hundred poor people.
— from My Memoirs, Vol. I, 1802 to 1821 by Alexandre Dumas

There is a History of the World, a History of Great Britain, a History of Christianity, a History of the Church, a History of the Welsh Nation, a History of Religion in Wales, all by Dissenters, besides elaborate denominational Histories of the Calvinistic Methodists, the Independents, the Baptists, &c. Indeed, all the ecclesiastical histories in the language are Nonconformist, and all the general histories except the History of Wales by the Rev. Thomas Price, and a small work called the 'Mirror of the Principal Ages.'
— from British Quarterly Review, American Edition, Vol. LIII January and April, 1871 by Various

“I would not accuse him of rascality,” was the reply.
— from The Daring Twins: A Story for Young Folk by L. Frank (Lyman Frank) Baum

Although he had fixed notions about his own rights, and extraordinary persistency in getting them, he never showed temper at a repulse; he simply and firmly persisted till he had what he wanted.
— from The Complete Writings of Charles Dudley Warner — Volume 1 by Charles Dudley Warner