The editor's salutatory is characteristic of its author: "Never was there a more interesting period than the present, nor ever was there a time within the reach of history when mankind have been so generally united in attending to the cultivation of the mind, examining into the natural and political rights of nations, and emancipating themselves from those shackles of despotism which have so long impeded the happiness of the human species, and rendered the rights of the many subservient to the interests of the few.
— from The Poems of Philip Freneau, Poet of the American Revolution. Volume 1 (of 3) by Philip Morin Freneau

Every civilized nation already puts restrictions on numerous classes of people, as has been noted—minors, criminals, and the insane, for example.
— from Applied Eugenics by Roswell H. (Roswell Hill) Johnson

And in the first place I say, that wherever there is in the Christian and civilized world a nationality of character—wherever there exists a nation of sufficient knowledge and wealth and population to constitute a Government, then a National Government is a necessary and proper result of nationality of character.
— from Select Speeches of Kossuth by Lajos Kossuth

From time to time I followed her career, saw her photograph in the public fashion show blazoned forth in newspaper and periodical; read occasional news of her reported engagements, and then, lost in the maelstrom of a malevolent infatuation, I put her finally from my mind, as at that time I put from me all memories of a life where quiet, order and simple ideals dominated.
— from The Wasted Generation by Owen Johnson