If play and imitative representation suffice for the child and for primitive man, it must not be taken as a sign of modesty, in our sense, or of resignation due to the realization of their impotence, on the contrary; it is the very obvious result of the excessive valuation of their wish, of the will which depends upon the wish and of the paths the wish takes.
— from Totem and Taboo Resemblances Between the Psychic Lives of Savages and Neurotics by Sigmund Freud

As to maneuvers for breaking through a line and calculations upon the co-operation of columns proceeding from the general front of the army, with the intention of effecting large detours around an enemy's flank, it may be stated that their result is always doubtful, since it depends upon such an accurate execution of carefully-arranged plans as is rarely seen.
— from The Art of War by Jomini, Antoine Henri, baron de

The place was a handsome suite of private apartments in Regent Street; the time was three o’clock in the afternoon to the dull and plodding, and the first hour of morning to the gay and spirited; the persons were Lord Frederick Verisopht, and his friend Sir Mulberry Hawk.
— from Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens

This being purely a labour of love, Mr. Squeers readily complied, and leaving the room for the purpose, almost immediately returned, supporting a sleek personage with an oily face, who, bursting from him, and giving to view the form and face of Mr. Snawley, made straight up to Smike, and tucking that poor fellow’s head under his arm in a most uncouth and awkward embrace, elevated his broad-brimmed hat at arm’s length in the air as a token of devout thanksgiving, exclaiming, meanwhile, ‘How little did I think of this here joyful meeting, when I saw him last!
— from Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens

You did quite right to go to the play, and I regret sincerely to have spoilt the pleasure you had in going, it shall not happen again.
— from The Romance of Lust: A classic Victorian erotic novel by Anonymous

Why is it that art-music, for instance-is so living, so popular, and in reality so powerful?
— from Project Gutenberg Compilation of 233 Short Stories of Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

Know you that I was no man's child, Poor and in rags—said she.
— from Poems by Rainer Maria Rilke

When modern times are in the same way called upon to revert to the standpoint of an ancient philosophy (as is recommended specially in regard to the philosophy of Plato) in order to make this a means of escaping from the complications and difficulties of succeeding times, this reversion does not come naturally as in the first case.
— from Hegel's Lectures on the History of Philosophy: Volume 1 (of 3) by Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

I have a faithful steward there, and since they have left he has collected the rents and has remitted to me such portions as I required, sending over the rest to England to the charge of a banker there.
— from By Pike and Dyke: a Tale of the Rise of the Dutch Republic by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty

And in this retreat Patch and I remained some days, I only venturing out for firewood, of which, most happily, I had a good heap cut.
— from A Claim on Klondyke: A Romance of the Arctic El Dorado by Edward Roper

These two regiments were every now and then almost enveloped by the clouds of smoke that hung over their heads, and floated on their flanks, and the echo from the cannonade and musketry was so tremendous in the forests, that the vibration seemed as if the earth were cracking and tumbling to pieces, or as if the heavens were rent asunder by the most terrific peals of thunder that ever rumbled; it was the most awful and the grandest mixture of sounds to be conceived; the woods seemed to crack to an interminable distance, each cannon report was answered one hundred fold, and produced an intermingled roar surpassing strange.
— from The South-West, by a Yankee. In Two Volumes. Volume 1 by J. H. (Joseph Holt) Ingraham

For this act of generosity they should receive the thanks of the people, and I respectfully suggest that a resolution of Congress to that effect be adopted.
— from State of the Union Addresses (1790-2006) by United States. Presidents

The habits of the carrion crow are so independent and peculiar, and its resourcefulness so great, that it is not to be wondered at that it holds its own well within and around London, while the rook is gradually being edged out.
— from The Naturalist on the Thames by C. J. (Charles John) Cornish

The Sketches were much more talked about than the first two or three numbers of Pickwick , and I remember still with what hearty praise the book was first named to me by my dear friend Albany Fonblanque, as keen and clear a judge as ever lived either of books or men.
— from The Life of Charles Dickens, Vol. I-III, Complete by John Forster