Art, therefore, whenever it offers violence to nature, in order to conquer, subdue, and bend her to its purpose, by tortures and force of all kinds, seldom obtains the end proposed; yet upon great struggle and application, there proceed certain imperfect births, or lame abortive works, specious in appearance, but weak and unstable in use; which are, nevertheless, with great pomp and deceitful appearances, triumphantly carried about, and shown by impostors.
— from Bacon's Essays, and Wisdom of the Ancients by Francis Bacon

If I get a little thin, it is with anxiety about my prospects, yet unsettled—my departure, continually procrastinated.
— from Jane Eyre: An Autobiography by Charlotte Brontë

I will therefore put you upon an expeditious and decisive plan of obtaining this very necessary information.
— from The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven Edition Table Of Contents And Index Of The Five Volumes by Edgar Allan Poe

Why, I'll tell you freely, my dear Pamela, said she, and I trust to your discretion to conceal what I say: my master has been often desiring me to put you upon asking him to let you stay—— Yes, said I, Mrs. Jervis, let me interrupt you: I will tell you why I could not think of that: It was not the pride of my heart, but the pride of my honesty: For what must have been the case?
— from Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded by Samuel Richardson

Be sure don't let people's telling you, you are pretty, puff you up; for you did not make yourself, and so can have no praise due to you for it.
— from Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded by Samuel Richardson

“Why,” said Proteus, “you used to get wearied when I spoke of her.”
— from Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare by William Shakespeare

At last Arthur gets the ball again, and actually drives it forward for two, and feels prouder than when he got the three best prizes, at hearing Tom's shout of joy, “Well played, well played, young un!”
— from Tom Brown's School Days by Thomas Hughes

However, the general plan, you understand, is for Sherman, with the force brought with him strengthened by a division from your command, to effect a crossing of the Tennessee River just below the mouth of Chickamauga; his crossing to be protected by artillery from the heights on the north bank of the river (to be located by your chief of artillery), and to secure the heights on the northern extremity to about the railroad tunnel before the enemy can concentrate against him.
— from Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, Complete by Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson) Grant

'The purpose you undertake is dangerous, the friends you have named uncertain, the time itself unsorted, and your whole plot too light for the counterpoise of so great an opposition.'
— from The First Part of King Henry the Fourth by William Shakespeare

I'm sure he'll be glad to put you up to the ropes.
— from The Man Who Did the Right Thing: A Romance by Harry Johnston

“If you like, Lord Moyne,” said Conroy, “we’ll put you under arrest and then nobody will be able to hold you responsible afterwards for anything that happens.
— from The Red Hand of Ulster by George A. Birmingham

‘I must confess that there is still a weak, bleeding place in my heart that aches yet, but I try to bear it bravely; and when I am tempted to think myself very miserable, I remember how patiently you used to go about your housework and spinning in those sad days when you thought your heart was drowned in the sea; and I try to do like you.
— from The Minister's Wooing by Harriet Beecher Stowe

“He said that he’d be right over to pick you up.
— from The Lani People by Jesse F. (Jesse Franklin) Bone

As to his person, he was a good-looking, substantial man, always spruce in his dress, tight-laced, and proud of the fine linen which he wore: his deportment in the council was serious and full of business; he was well conversant in state affairs, as well as in those of his own household; and being sprung from a good old family, it was no wonder that he was respected and looked up to by the whole town, and that any pretty young Ulmer damsel would have thought herself too happy to become mistress of these united advantages.
— from The Banished: A Swabian Historical Tale by Wilhelm Hauff

but he put you up to it—or Grace Ferrall did.
— from The Fighting Chance by Robert W. (Robert William) Chambers

I'll put you up to a trick, my lad: if you stand that you'll stand anything; and if you don't mean to go in leading-strings all your life, now is the time to show it.
— from Doctor Thorne by Anthony Trollope

I'd like to have you come; we can drive over and pick you up.
— from Forward, Children! by Paul Alexander Bartlett

“But,” added Gordon, “I wish you to answer me as an officer—why did the Governor place you under arrest?”
— from A Prisoner of the Khaleefa: Twelve Years Captivity at Omdurman by Charles Neufeld