But in the region of imaginative, spinal and essential attributes, something equivalent to creation is, for our age and lands, imperatively demanded.
— from Complete Prose Works Specimen Days and Collect, November Boughs and Goodbye My Fancy by Walt Whitman

Thou mayst be assured of this that, if ever the fancy took me thereof, I should not come hither; marry, methinketh I should have sense enough to contrive it in one of our chambers, on such wise and after such a fashion that it would seem to me an extraordinary thing if ever thou camest to know of it.'
— from The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio by Giovanni Boccaccio

The Jews, who, under the Assyrian and Persian monarchies, had languished for many ages the most despised portion of their slaves, 1 emerged from obscurity under the successors of Alexander; and as they multiplied to a surprising degree in the East, and afterwards in the West, they soon excited the curiosity and wonder of other nations.
— 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

[33] In this way you will be able to smooth away to some extent the crudity of imagery when the latter is endeavoring to replace word expression.
— from A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud

This narrow, selfish policy had about as much soundness in it as the idea upon which it was based, so often brought forward with what looks very suspiciously like a specious effort to cover mental indolence with a glittering generality, “that the Filipino is only a grown-up child and needs a strong paternal government,” an idea which entirely overlooks the natural fact that when an impressionable subject comes within the influence of a stronger force from a higher civilization he is very likely to remain a child—perhaps a stunted one—as long as he is treated as such.
— from The Social Cancer: A Complete English Version of Noli Me Tangere by José Rizal

Henry the Sixth of Eng 214 land said of Henry the Seventh, when he was a lad, and gave him water, “This is the lad that shall enjoy the crown for which we strive.”
— from Bacon's Essays, and Wisdom of the Ancients by Francis Bacon

At the commencement of the year the attention of the people was drawn away from the Etrurian war, because a body of fugitives from the Pomptine district, suddenly entering the city, brought word that the Antians were up in arms; and that the states of the Latins privately sent their youth to that war, denying that there was any public concert in it, they alleging that volunteers were only not prevented from serving in whatever quarter they pleased.
— from The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08 by Livy

In a solemn edict, 190 filled with the strongest assurances of that paternal affection which princes so often express, and so seldom feel, the emperor Honorius promulgated his intention of convening an annual assembly of the seven provinces: a name peculiarly appropriated to Aquitain and the ancient Narbonnese, which had long since exchanged their Celtic rudeness for the useful and elegant arts of Italy.
— 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

It should be made watertight, and then, when lowered down close to the net, the fish are so eager to come and see the cause of the brightness, thinking, maybe, that the sun has come down to pay them a visit, that they swim right against the net, and are caught in great numbers.
— from John Deane of Nottingham: Historic Adventures by Land and Sea by William Henry Giles Kingston

"Why, how is it you're come so early this cold morning, Maggie?
— from The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot

This does not mean that we are to lay down a hard and fast pattern of the conditions and strenuously endeavor to compel the Power to conform its working to every detail of our mental picture--to do so would be to hinder its working and to exhaust ourselves.
— from The Creative Process in the Individual by T. (Thomas) Troward

Add to this their ceremonies, their sanctity, especially that conferred by the relics of saints and martyrs which they contained—all these things made these buildings all in all to those who erected and to those who worshipped in them.
— from A History of Architecture in All Countries, Volume 2, 3rd ed. From the Earliest Times to the Present Day by James Fergusson

Thare iz no man in the world so easy to cheat az ourselfs.
— from The Complete Works of Josh Billings by Josh Billings

Mary glanced skyward before she entered the convent and, seeing the silver plane circling about, wondered if Harry would be able to land.
— from The Phantom Town Mystery by Carol Norton

“‘Sixpence,’ I says to myself, as I shut the door after him, and him a-walking away like mad.” “Sixpence!” echoed the cook.
— from By Birth a Lady by George Manville Fenn

Thoughts of Cosette, which used to flit through his brain with a surprising effect that can only be likened to an effect of flamingoes sweeping across an English meadow, had now almost entirely ceased to disturb him.
— from A Great Man: A Frolic by Arnold Bennett

All places are crowded on Sunday except the churches.
— from Aliens or Americans? by Howard B. (Howard Benjamin) Grose

383 A little later, when she entered the court-room, the eyes of all were fixed on the flower.
— from The Ordeal of Elizabeth by Anonymous