Symbols, we know, are in themselves arbitrary and of conventional signification, and the complete circle of human science might have been as well symbolized by any other sign or series of doctrines as by the seven liberal arts and sciences.
— from The Symbolism of Freemasonry Illustrating and Explaining Its Science and Philosophy, Its Legends, Myths and Symbols by Albert Gallatin Mackey

I have often suspected Isabella’s indifference to my son: a thousand circumstances crowd on my mind that confirm that suspicion.
— from The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole

Six large detached buildings, three stories high, all radiating from a rotunda which serves as the common centre, and touching each other at the starting-point, separated by courtyards which grow broader in proportion as the buildings spread out, pierced with a thousand little dormer windows which give light to the cells, surrounded by a high wall, and presenting from a bird's-eye point of view the drape of a fan—such is Mazas.
— from The History of a Crime The Testimony of an Eye-Witness by Victor Hugo

The favorite orniments of both Sexes are the Common coarse blue and white beads as before discribed of the Chinnooks.
— from The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 by William Clark

But when Amelia came down with her kind smiling looks (Rebecca must introduce her to her friend, Miss Crawley was longing to see her, and was too ill to leave her carriage)—when, I say, Amelia came down, the Park Lane shoulder-knot aristocracy wondered more and more that such a thing could come out of Bloomsbury; and Miss Crawley was fairly captivated by the sweet blushing face of the young lady who came forward so timidly and so gracefully to pay her respects to the protector of her friend.
— from Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray

The pretense, therefore, that the national legislature would not be at full liberty to submit all the civil causes of federal cognizance to the determination of juries, is a pretense destitute of all just foundation.
— from The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton

'If any person visited do fortune, by negligent looking unto, or by any other means, to come or be conveyed from a place infected to any other place, the parish from whence such party hath come or been conveyed, upon notice thereof given, shall at their charge cause the said party so visited and escaped to be carried and brought back again by night, and the parties in this case offending to be punished at the direction of the alderman of the ward, and the house of the receiver of such visited person to be shut up for twenty days.
— from A Journal of the Plague Year Written by a Citizen Who Continued All the While in London by Daniel Defoe

Then, shall I seek alone the churlish crew, Or with my fleet their flying sails pursue?
— from The Aeneid by Virgil

'Yes, that is my name,' smiling at the clumsy, childish print.
— from Kim by Rudyard Kipling

The minutes of the previous meetings were now read by one whom I at once recognized as my brother, a perfectly Symmetrical Square, and the Chief Clerk of the High Council.
— from Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions (Illustrated) by Edwin Abbott Abbott

He was born in Lincolnshire in 1635, and, as has already been mentioned, studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, under the tuition of Ray, whose most intimate friend he continued to be until the period of his premature and lamented death.
— from Lives of Eminent Zoologists, from Aristotle to Linnæus with Introductory remarks on the Study of Natural History by William MacGillivray

He crossed the room quickly and extended his hand in a movement of instinctive sympathy and tenderness: "Come, come, child—you're young and life is all before you."
— from The Sins of the Father: A Romance of the South by Dixon, Thomas, Jr.

After receiving a knowledge of a few rules, such as they could communicate, he returned home, and commenced painting from nature, when he laid the foundation of a style in art unapproached either [4] before his time or since.
— from Rembrandt and His Works Comprising a Short Account of His Life; with a Critical Examination into His Principles and Practice of Design, Light, Shade, and Colour. Illustrated by Examples from the Etchings of Rembrandt. by John Burnet

New York State examinations prevent the practice of ignorant doctors from other states, and the city can count many able colored practitioners.
— from Half a Man: The Status of the Negro in New York by Mary White Ovington

They spent only one night in London, and stayed at the Charing Cross Hotel for the sake of convenience.
— from A Gamble with Life by Silas K. (Silas Kitto) Hocking

The Duke said no more at that time, for he cared not to give untimely advice, and a moment after, a bell began to toll in the silence, and the chaplain came habited to conduct the Prince to his chapel.
— from The Isles of Sunset by Arthur Christopher Benson

A third, fourth, and fifth time the message went across without response, but finally the idea was caught on the other side; answering toots came cheerfully back and the connection was recovered.
— from Inventors by Philip Gengembre Hubert

Now, the first job is for William and me to try for the passage through this side of the reef with the boat, and then we will look for the little harbour which we discovered; as soon as that is done, we will return and take the tents and all we require round in the boat, and when we have pitched the tents and all is arranged, Mrs. Seagrave and the children can walk through the wood with us, and take possession."
— from Masterman Ready by Frederick Marryat

I have distributed from my house on Camden street all the committee could furnish me.
— from A Military Genius Life of Anna Ella Carroll of Maryland by Sarah Ellen Blackwell