He let the first storm pass over him, yielding to its imperious will, making no effort to stem its fury lest he interrupt the inspiration.
— from The Jewish State by Theodor Herzl

This at once brought him into action with the SANTISSIMA TRINIDAD, one hundred and thirty-six; the SAN JOSEPH, one hundred and twelve; the SALVADOR DEL MUNDO, one hundred and twelve; the SAN NICOLAS, eighty; the SAN ISIDRO, seventy-four, another seventy-four, and another first-rate.
— from The Life of Horatio, Lord Nelson by Robert Southey

“Madam is not English, then?” said I, respectfully.
— from The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt, 1725-1798. Complete by Giacomo Casanova

If the enemy sees an advantage to be gained and makes no effort to secure it, the soldiers are exhausted.
— from The Art of War by active 6th century B.C. Sunzi

His excellent and righteous policy did not last for a moment, for the people were not educated to support it, and therefore it could not be lasting.
— from Plutarch's Lives, Volume 1 (of 4) by Plutarch

But now I ofttimes groan, and bear my sad estate with sorrow; because many evils befall me in this vale of miseries which continually disturb and fill me with sorrow, and encloud me, continually hinder and fill me with care, allure and entangle me, that I cannot have free access to Thee, nor enjoy that sweet intercourse which is always near at hand to the blessed spirits.
— from The Imitation of Christ by à Kempis Thomas

Not even the seagreen Incorruptible but shall have some pity, some human love, though it takes an effort.
— from The French Revolution: A History by Thomas Carlyle

Origen obeyed so flattering an invitation, and though he could not expect to succeed in the conversion of an artful and ambitious woman, she listened with pleasure to his eloquent exhortations, and honorably dismissed him to his retirement in Palestine.
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Table of Contents with links in the HTML file to the two Project Gutenberg editions (12 volumes) by Edward Gibbon

Both the theory and practice of the arts which depend on mathematical science and mechanical power, were cultivated under the patronage of the emperors; the fame of Archimedes was rivalled by Proclus and Anthemius; and if their miracles had been related by intelligent spectators, they might now enlarge the speculations, instead of exciting the distrust, of philosophers.
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Table of Contents with links in the HTML file to the two Project Gutenberg editions (12 volumes) by Edward Gibbon

A most infamous fraud was now accused against him who had sold the dog; and as dog-dealers are not so respectable, and are almost as little credited as horse-dealers, any charge imputing dishonesty required no evidence to substantiate it.
— from The Dog by W. N. (William Nelson) Hutchinson

The guard told me to keep hidden what I did not eat then, so I knew he was breaking the rules in giving it to me.
— from Three Times and Out Told by Private Simmons, Written by Nellie L. McClung by Mervin C. Simmons

Now, that 'body' there is not equivalent to self is distinctly seen when we notice that Paul goes on, in the very next clause, to say, 'and be transformed by the renewing of your mind .'
— from Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians; Epistles of St. Peter and St. John by Alexander Maclaren

Without any knowledge of the laws of society, without any settled ideas of the different rights of different persons, they would have nothing in view but the honour of their profession, nor endeavour to support it by any other method than that of violence.
— from The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. Volume 10 Parlimentary Debates I by Samuel Johnson

Her mind was a proper companion for such a form: she did not endeavour to shine in conversation by those sprightly sallies which only puzzle; and with still greater care she avoided that affected solemnity in her discourse, which produces stupidity; but without any eagerness to talk, she just said what she ought, and no more.
— from Samuel Pepys and the World He Lived In by Henry B. (Henry Benjamin) Wheatley

The English say their own fire did no execution, the shot in all probability not even striking their objects—"the rapid change of position, occasioned by a fair wind and current, preventing the certainty of aim."
— from Elements of Military Art and Science Or, Course Of Instruction In Strategy, Fortification, Tactics Of Battles, &C.; Embracing The Duties Of Staff, Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, And Engineers; Adapted To The Use Of Volunteers And Militia; Third Edition; With Critical Notes On The Mexican And Crimean Wars. by H. W. (Henry Wager) Halleck

I am not displeased with this thought as a desideratum, but I doe never expect to see it donn; so few men have the hearts to doe public good to give 4 or 5 pounds for a copper-plate.
— from The Natural History of Wiltshire by John Aubrey

“I've heard o' such things,” continued the skipper, in impressive tones, “but I never expected to see it You can't say you haven't seen a ghost now, Bob.”
— from Sea Urchins by W. W. (William Wymark) Jacobs

The Egyptians knew little of the northern peak: the Mediterranean, the "Very Green," interposed between it and Egypt, and prevented their coming near enough to see it.
— from History Of Egypt, Chaldæa, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, Volume 1 (of 12) by G. (Gaston) Maspero

Other examples of this practical identity are these: "Before you choose a friend eat a peck o' saut wi' him"; [ 97 ] "It's no easy to straucht in the oak the crook that grew in the sapling."
— from Proverb Lore Many sayings, wise or otherwise, on many subjects, gleaned from many sources by F. Edward (Frederick Edward) Hulme