It was about nine o'clock and dark overhead, but the narrow towering streets of old Paris possessed a rude system of lighting and the life at least of a great city, so that he felt less lonely than in his rooms, and walked on and on for several hours.
— from The False Chevalier or, The Lifeguard of Marie Antoinette by W. D. (William Douw) Lighthall

"This creature is a true instrument of pleasure, a real Stradivarius of love, and one on which I would willingly play a tune," thought Rodolphe, as he heard the fair creature's heart beating a hurried charge in a very distinct fashion.
— from Bohemians of the Latin Quarter by Henri Murger

They know how, with a large measure of success, you have endeavoured to moderate taxation; to introduce judicial reforms; to produce a real security of life and property; to administer the finances in a prudent and economical spirit; to further the cause of material improvements, advancing public works so far as the means, financial and executive, of the Government might permit; to found a popular system of secular education; to advocate the display of true Christianity before the people, without infringing {80} those principles of religions toleration which guide the British Government in dealing with its native subjects.
— from Lord Lawrence by Temple, Richard Carnac, Sir

Even where only part of the brush is burned and the rest is piled, as when the piles in open places, along ridges, streams, or laid off lines are burned, very much is gained in case of fire, since these cleared lanes form bases from which a fire may be fought.
— from Practical Forestry in the Pacific Northwest Protecting Existing Forests and Growing New Ones, from the Standpoint of the Public and That of the Lumberman, with an Outline of Technical Methods by E. T. (Edward Tyson) Allen

To this solemn admonition Colman and William Brattle had the irreverence to prepare a reply smacking of levity; nevertheless, they began with a grave and noble definition of their principles.
— from The Emancipation of Massachusetts by Brooks Adams

Tied to a system, he still preserves a rare spirit of liberty,—under the name of reflection he admits another source of knowledge than sensation; and this concession to common sense is very important.
— from Lectures on the true, the beautiful and the good by Victor Cousin

Perhaps a rudimentary sentiment of loyalty towards me restrained him.
— from The Morals of Marcus Ordeyne : a Novel by William John Locke