The two infants had already proclaimed a rebellion against the institution of marriage, for which they proposed to substitute the doctrine of elective affinity.
— from English Literature Its History and Its Significance for the Life of the English-Speaking World by William J. (William Joseph) Long

It is however observable, that notwithstanding this imperfection we may avoid talking nonsense on these subjects, and may perceive any repugnance among the ideas, as well as if we had a fall comprehension of them.
— from A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume

As their merit consists in their tendency to serve the person, possessed of them, without any magnificent claim to public and social desert, we are the less jealous of their pretensions, and readily admit them into the catalogue of laudable qualities.
— from An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals by David Hume

The man was old, clumsy, poor, and ragged, and the idea of his driving himself about in his carriage for display amused Mr. Stack so much that he could not help bursting out into a laugh; and then "the old man blushed up to the roots of his hair."
— from The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals by Charles Darwin

Therefore, within the ethnical circle of good society, there is a narrower and higher circle, concentration of its light, and flower of courtesy, to which there is always a tacit appeal of pride and reference, as to its inner and imperial court, the parliament of love and chivalry.
— from Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson by Ralph Waldo Emerson

With a production of nearly 11,000,000 pounds, Angola ranks about third in Africa as a coffee-growing country.
— from All About Coffee by William H. (William Harrison) Ukers

But there is still another and surer method of gauging the extent of paederastic perversion at Rome, and that is the richness of the Latin vocabulary in terms and words bearing upon this repulsive subject.
— from The Satyricon — Complete by Petronius Arbiter

The roots forced themselves down into the worm’s person, and rearward along through its body, sucking up the creature’s juices for sap; the worm slowly died, and turned to wood.
— from Following the Equator: A Journey Around the World by Mark Twain

There are not many whose minds are so obtuse as to be blind to its peculiarly graceful attitude and motions, and every one is familiar with its history, as recorded in poetry and romance, all the incidents of which have served to elevate it above any association with fashion or vulgarity.
— from The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 06, No. 35, September, 1860 A Magazine Of Literature, Art, And Politics by Various

Mrs. Vernon took out a slip of paper and read aloud the items that went with the tent, then concluded by mentioning the cash sum asked for the entire outfit.
— from Girl Scouts at Dandelion Camp by Lillian Elizabeth Roy

“Colonel Sir Charles Smith will listen to all your plans, and readily adopt them if he thinks them feasible, but his appointment as Commander-in-Chief of the Turks, and senior officer of the Europeans, gives him the sole military authority.
— from The War in Syria, Volume 1 (of 2) by Charles Napier

With a quick, imperceptible movement he produced a revolver and thrust its gleaming barrel up under Roy’s nose.
— from The Girl Aviators and the Phantom Airship by Margaret Burnham

Lütkemann, a professor of philosophy at Rostock, affirmed that in death, because the unity of soul and body was broken, Christ was not true man, and that to deny this was to destroy the reality and the saving power of his death.
— from Church History, Volume 3 (of 3) by J. H. (Johann Heinrich) Kurtz

There were so many causes at work to produce a revolution among the Indians, that it would be unfair to name any one as the cause.
— from Eleven Years in the Rocky Mountains and Life on the Frontier Also a History of the Sioux War, and a Life of Gen. George A. Custer with Full Account of His Last Battle by Frances Fuller Victor

Now, you see, Tom, at that time there was no wooden pier at Ryde as there is now, and when the tide was out there was such a long flat of mud that there was no landing; so the way it was managed was, the wherries came in as far as they could, and were met by a horse and cart, which took out the passengers and carried them through the mud and water to the hard ground.
— from Poor Jack by Frederick Marryat

He will see how necessary it is for the sake of progress to know exactly the truth about one's own powers and requirements, and that in this respect even a musical beggar enjoys an advantage above the King,—or rather, he has it, whether he enjoys it or not; a candid opinion as to his musical accomplishments is gratuitously offered him, and it is often a just one.
— from Musical Myths and Facts, Volume 2 (of 2) by Carl Engel

This cross-relationship between persons of the same gens in the different tribes is still preserved and recognized among them in all its original force.
— from Ancient Society Or, Researches in the Lines of Human Progress from Savagery, through Barbarism to Civilization by Lewis Henry Morgan

After the battle of Marengo he received the command of the army of Italy; but his extortions produced a revolt among the inhabitants, and he lived for some time in retreat and disgrace, after a violent quarrel with Bonaparte, during which many severe truths were said and heard on both sides.
— from Memoirs of the Court of St. Cloud (Being secret letters from a gentleman at Paris to a nobleman in London) — Complete by Lewis Goldsmith