To the devil and Barabbas with such books, that have brought to ruin in this way the finest understanding there was in all La Mancha!” The niece said the same, and, more: “You must know, Master Nicholas”—for that was the name of the barber—“it was often my uncle’s way to stay two days and nights together poring over these unholy books of misventures, after which he would fling the book away and snatch up his sword and fall to slashing the walls; and when he was tired out he would say he had killed four giants like four towers; and the sweat that flowed from him when he was weary he said was the blood of the wounds he had received in battle; and then he would drink a great jug of cold water and become calm and quiet, saying that this water was a most precious potion which the sage Esquife, a great magician and friend of his, had brought him.
— from The History of Don Quixote, Volume 1, Complete by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

The earth he had taken was carried into Arabia, to a place between Mecca and Tayef, where, being first kneaded by the angels, it was afterwards fashioned by God himself into a human form, and left to dry for the space of forty days, or, as others say, as many years, the angels in the meantime often visiting it, and Eblis (then one of the angels who are nearest to God’s presence, afterwards the devil) among the rest; but he, not contented with looking on it, kicked it with his foot till it rung, and knowing God designed that creature to be his superior, took a secret resolution never to acknowledge him as such.
— from Malay Magic Being an introduction to the folklore and popular religion of the Malay Peninsula by Walter William Skeat

"There is nobody here but the eunuch, who is your own servant, the little slave, and myself, yet you cover yourself with your veil and reproach me for having sent for you, as if I had committed a crime." "Sire," answered the princess, "I am right and you are wrong.
— from The Arabian Nights Entertainments by Andrew Lang

When you meet your relatives there, and they persist in treating you as if you were still a mortal, you will not be able to bear them.
— from Man and Superman: A Comedy and a Philosophy by Bernard Shaw

Among the virtues of Tiberius, his beauty (he was one of the tallest and most comely of the Romans) might introduce him to the favor of Sophia; and the widow of Justin was persuaded, that she should preserve her station and influence under the reign of a second and more youthful husband.
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Table of Contents with links in the HTML file to the two Project Gutenberg editions (12 volumes) by Edward Gibbon

I am afraid you will think me mad, so I won’t say any more; yet, I really believe Mr. Garrick would make you mad too if you could see him.
— from Evelina, Or, the History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World by Fanny Burney

Take your slippers; and may you never have a day's luck with them!
— from Pygmalion by Bernard Shaw

So far, you are welcome as my guest; but if you wish to see any more you must pay the price.
— from Tales of Fantasy and Fact by Brander Matthews

Geese grow fat on barley, Swans require ethereal provend, undesirous to resemble 'em— Soar to seek Apollo—favored with a parley Such as, Master, you grant me—who will not hold you long.
— from The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning Cambridge Edition by Robert Browning

Sweet Soueraigne, Leaue vs to our selues, and make your self some comfort Out of your best aduice Cym.
— from Cymbeline by William Shakespeare

But he could almost have thought that she guessed at his scheme when she went on, 'If you would only pursue one thing steadily, and make yourself do it in spite of disinclination, you don't know what good it would do you, and how it would help you in everything else.
— from Holiday Tales by Florence Wilford

Last night it blew a fearful gale; I was kept awake about a couple of hours, and could not get to sleep for the horror of the wind’s noise; the whole house shook; and, mind you, our house is a 150 house, a great castle of jointed stone that would weigh up a street of English houses; so that when it quakes, as it did last night, it means something.
— from The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 23 by Robert Louis Stevenson

TRANSIENTS They are ashamed who leave so soon The Inn of Grief—who thought to stay Through many a faithful sun and moon, Yet tarry but a day.
— from The Dreamers And Other Poems by Theodosia Pickering Garrison

There isn’t a straight line in your whole soul and mind: you’re crooked all over.
— from The Flirt by Booth Tarkington

we got there the fire was out, but sitch a mess you niver did see.
— from Fighting the Flames by R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne