Nothing was left but the sausage skewers, and this formed a subject of conversation, till at last it turned to the proverb, 'Soup from sausage skins;' or, as the people in the neighboring country call it, 'Soup from a sausage skewer.'
— from Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen by H. C. (Hans Christian) Andersen

For the smiter thought he ought carefully to avoid lending his illustrious hands to the death of a vile cinder-blower, and considered that ignominy would punish his shameless passion worse than death.
— from The Danish History, Books I-IX by Grammaticus Saxo

None of these sports or exercises being pursued in George's Shooting Gallery to-night, which is so devoid of company that a little grotesque man with a large head has it all to himself and lies asleep upon the floor.
— from Bleak House by Charles Dickens

The legislative also in this case being supposed to consist of several persons, (for if it be a single person, it cannot but be always in being, and so will, as supreme, naturally have the supreme executive power, together with the legislative) may assemble, and exercise their legislature, at the times that either their original constitution, or their own adjournment, appoints, or when they please; if neither of these hath appointed any time, or there be no other way prescribed to convoke them: for the supreme power being placed in them by the people, it is always in them, and they may exercise it when they please, unless by their original constitution they are limited to certain seasons, or by an act of their supreme power they have adjourned to a certain time; and when that time comes, they have a right to assemble and act again.
— from Second Treatise of Government by John Locke

If you take a rectangular piece of cardboard, twice as long as it is broad, and cut it in half diagonally, you will get two of the pieces shown in the illustration.
— from Amusements in Mathematics by Henry Ernest Dudeney

the Oysters cried, Turning a little blue, “After such kindness, that would be A dismal thing to do!”
— from Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll

It was the more difficult to explain to her, because we three, in our constant talks and lectures about the rest of the world, had naturally avoided the seamy side; not so much from a desire to deceive, but from wishing to put the best foot foremost for our civilization, in the face of the beauty and comfort of theirs.
— from Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Therefore I am return'd, lest confidence 140 Of my success with Eve in Paradise Deceive ye to perswasion over-sure Of like succeeding here; I summon all Rather to be in readiness, with hand Or counsel to assist; lest I who erst Thought none my equal, now be over-match'd.
— from The Poetical Works of John Milton by John Milton

From all of these tokens Oliver concluded that a long time ago, before the old Jew was born, it had belonged to better people, and had perhaps been quite gay and handsome: dismal and dreary as it looked now.
— from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

That one hour of concentrated thought and lofty impulse should give a dignity and a tone to the whole dull provincial week.
— from A Duet, with an Occasional Chorus by Arthur Conan Doyle

McKean has imported, within the year, several new editions and collections of old poetry, of which I have the reading, but there is a good deal of chaff to a little meal,—hardly worth bolting.
— from Familiar Letters The Writings of Henry David Thoreau, Volume 06 (of 20) by Henry David Thoreau

Of course they also learn about plays—I suppose from your primitive point of view you would say [Pg 192] that we conduct a course in dramatic literature.
— from Were You Ever a Child? by Floyd Dell

A great and decisive battle will be fought here, such as 808 this continent has never witnessed, between the great principles of Christian truth and liberty, and the principles of lies and tyranny of the Pope.
— from Fifty Years in the Church of Rome by Charles Paschal Telesphore Chiniquy

On coming to a large lake, the shore of which was sandy, he saw a large flock of brant, and, speaking to them, he asked them to turn him into a brant.
— from Folk-Lore and Legends: North American Indian by Anonymous

Whether I governed well or ill, there are those not far off can tell; and let them tell, if they please, that can tell better than I. I have resolved doubtful cases, determined law-suits, and all the while ready to die for hunger; such was the pleasure of Doctor Pedro Rezio, of Tirteafuera, that physician in ordinary to island-governors.
— from The History of Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

The cant phrase of political freedom has unhappily come to mean political corruption, which hardly entitles this second candidate for the exclusive patent of civilization to a lengthened discussion in these pages.
— from The Catholic World, Vol. 17, April, 1873 to September, 1873 A Monthly Magazine of General Literature and Science by Various

He has longer legs than Stacey and of course takes a longer stride, and that counts.
— from Witch Winnie's Mystery, or The Old Oak Cabinet The Story of a King's Daughter by Elizabeth W. (Elizabeth Williams) Champney

It is delightful to hear the number of pretty things the throwing-off young gentleman gives utterance to, during tea, and still more so to observe the ease with which, from long practice and study, he delicately blends one compliment to a lady with two for himself.
— from Sketches of Young Gentlemen by Charles Dickens