The principle of individualism rejects really great men, and demands the most delicate vision for, and the speediest discovery of, a talent among people who are almost equal; and inasmuch as every one has some modicum of talent in such late and civilised cultures (and can, therefore, expect to receive his share of honour), there is a more general buttering-up of modest merits to-day than there has ever been.
— from The Will to Power: An Attempted Transvaluation of All Values. Book III and IV by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

They scorn the alliance with the Copperheads; they tell me to my face that they respect Grant, McPherson, and our brave associates who fight manfully and well for a principle, but despise the Copperheads and sneaks at the North, who profess friendship for the South and opposition to the war, as mere covers for their knavery and poltroonery.
— from Memoirs of General William T. Sherman — Complete by William T. (William Tecumseh) Sherman

And these affect me, waking, the whole day, nor is any rest given me from them, as there is from musical, sometimes in silence, from all voices.
— from The Confessions of St. Augustine by Augustine, Saint, Bishop of Hippo

KIND RECEPTION GIVEN ME BY MRS.
— from My Bondage and My Freedom by Frederick Douglass

If I should ask any other question that may happen to have that result, give me credit, if you please, for being in ignorance how to speak to you as I ought.’
— from Hard Times by Charles Dickens

In the drawing-room of which mansion, there presently entered to them the most remarkable girl Mr. James Harthouse had ever seen.
— from Hard Times by Charles Dickens

Why should we be so easily awed by artistic genius and exalt men whose works we know only by name, perhaps, and whose influence upon society has been infinitesimal, like a Pindar or a Leonardo, while we regard great merchants and inventors as ignoble creatures in comparison?
— from The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress by George Santayana

Oh, you're a romantic girl, Madeline—skunk and all.
— from Plays by Susan Glaspell

Though I have not seen the actual reception (generally miscalled a “wake”), I once saw near Kajang in Selangor a tiger which had been prepared for the ceremony.
— from Malay Magic Being an introduction to the folklore and popular religion of the Malay Peninsula by Walter William Skeat

The Richmond house was built of limestone, and, although it was said in the village to have become run down, had in reality grown more beautiful with every passing year.
— from Winesburg, Ohio: A Group of Tales of Ohio Small Town Life by Sherwood Anderson

My clothing was in rags when I reached Germany, my tunic and cap were lost in the sap the day I was taken, and I needed socks and underwear very badly, also boots, so this supply was more than welcome, but I needed food more than anything else.
— from Into the Jaws of Death by Jack O'Brien

“A real gentleman, my dear fellow—that’s so soon said!”
— from The Coxon Fund by Henry James

As to the political view of the matter, the coming of these farmers from across “the line” does not as a rule give much anxiety to Canadians with regard to its effect on the permanence of the British connection, for the newcomers generally are satisfied that they have as much liberty under the Canadian system of government as under the American; and the most restless of them are more keenly occupied with money-making than with politics.
— from Canada and the British immigrant by Emily P. (Emily Poynton) Weaver

In London, for example, the wards had their bedels, who were sworn, inter alia , to suffer no persons of ill repute to dwell in the ward of which they were bedels, and to return good men upon inquests.
— from The Customs of Old England by F. J. (Frederick John) Snell

"Quite right, quite right," exclaimed the king with satisfaction; "I remember the great pleasure your loyal reception gave me, and all the interesting things you told me of the customs of your people.
— from For Sceptre and Crown: A Romance of the Present Time. Vol. 1 (of 2) by Gregor Samarow

A moment ago his face had been distorted from horror; now a look of rage glittered menacingly in his eyes.
— from The Gray Phantom by Herman Landon

He was educated at Cambridge, and was generally styled "Robert Greene, Maister of Artes."
— from History of English Humour, Vol. 1 With an Introduction upon Ancient Humour by A. G. K. (Alfred Guy Kingan) L'Estrange

A room that was like a picture—a carpet of rose-buds gleaming through rich green moss, lounges piled with downy-silk pillows, a bed curtained in foamy lace, a pretty room—Aileen Jocyln's chambre-a-coucher , and looking like a picture herself, in a flowing morning-robe, the rich, dark hair falling heavy and unbound to her waist, Aileen Jocyln lay among piles of scarlet cushions, like some young Eastern Sultana.
— from Sir Noel's Heir: A Novel by May Agnes Fleming