But when we know about it, we do more than merely have it; we seem, as we think over its relations, to subject it to a sort of treatment and to operate upon it with our thought.
— from The Principles of Psychology, Volume 1 (of 2) by William James

Since totemism is everywhere dominated by the idea of a quasi-divine principle, imminent in certain categories of men and things and thought of under the form of an animal or vegetable, the explanation of this religion is essentially the explanation of this belief; to arrive at this, we must seek to learn how men have been led to construct this idea and out of what materials they have constructed it.
— from The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life by Émile Durkheim

There are three of us.
— from Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

The birds' instinctive economy would not be benefited by a tax-gatherer, a recruiting-sergeant, a sect or two of theologians, and the other usual organs of human polity.
— from The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress by George Santayana

He knew the coast perfectly well, so about midnight, when he felt himself gently bumped on a weed-bed, he said, “Hm, tide’s running strong tonight,” and turning over under water opened his eyes slowly and stretched.
— from The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

Up and to the office, where sat all the morning, among other things a great conflict I had with Sir W. Warren, he bringing a letter to the Board, flatly in words charging them with their delays in passing his accounts, which have been with them these two years, part of which I said was not true, and the other undecent.
— from The Diary of Samuel Pepys — Complete by Samuel Pepys

Who is so full of hindrance and annoyance to thee as thine own undisciplined heart?
— from The Imitation of Christ by à Kempis Thomas

What your worship may do, and fairly do, is to change this service and tribute as regards the lady Dulcinea del Toboso for a certain quantity of ave-marias and credos which we will say for your worship’s intention, and this is a condition that can be complied with by night as by day, running or resting, in peace or in war; but to imagine that we are going now to return to the flesh-pots of Egypt, I mean to take up our chain and set out for El Toboso, is to imagine that it is now night, though it is not yet ten in the morning, and to ask this of us is like asking pears of the elm tree.” “Then by all that’s good,” said Don Quixote (now stirred to wrath), “Don son of a bitch, Don Ginesillo de Paropillo, or whatever your name is, you will have to go yourself alone, with your tail between your legs and the whole chain on your back.” Pasamonte, who was anything but meek (being by this time thoroughly convinced that Don Quixote was not quite right in his head as he had committed such a vagary as to set them free), finding himself abused in this fashion, gave the wink to his companions, and falling back they began to shower stones on Don Quixote at such a rate that he was quite unable to protect himself with his buckler, and poor Rocinante no more heeded the spur than if he had been made of brass.
— from The History of Don Quixote, Volume 1, Complete by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

They are talking of us, but it comes only as a whisper, like the dying voice of a distant wind, and I cannot understand their words.
— from The Lords of the Wild: A Story of the Old New York Border by Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander) Altsheler

He has been indefatigable, and ever ready to lead a sortie, or to convey an order to a threatened outpost under the heaviest fire.
— from The Defence of Lucknow A Diary Recording the Daily Events during the Siege of the European Residency, from 31st May to 25th September, 1857 by T. F. (Thomas Fourness) Wilson

There are ten of us, as you see.
— from The Continental Classics, Volume XVIII., Mystery Tales Including Stories by Feodor Mikhailovitch Dostoyevsky, Jörgen Wilhelm Bergsöe and Bernhard Severin Ingemann by Various

Wrong as we think slavery is, we can yet afford to let it alone where it is, because that much is due to the necessity arising from its actual presence in the nation; but can we, while our votes will prevent it, allow it to spread into the National Territories, and to overrun us here in these Free States?
— from The American Union Speaker by John D. (John Dudley) Philbrick

Dr. Cullen says on this point:— "In certain persons there is a state of mind distinguished by a concurrence of the following circumstances: a languor, a listlessness, or want of resolution and activity with respect to all undertakings; a disposition to seriousness, sadness and timidity as to all future events; an apprehension of the worst or most unhappy state of them; and therefore, often upon slight grounds, an apprehension of great evil.
— from Intestinal Ills Chronic Constipation, Indigestion, Autogenetic Poisons, Diarrhea, Piles, Etc. Also Auto-Infection, Auto-Intoxication, Anemia, Emaciation, Etc. Due to Proctitis and Colitis by Alcinous B. (Alcinous Burton) Jamison

“Well, there are two of us,” Ned said, “and two to one is fair enough when he is as big as the two of us together.”
— from Through the Fray: A Tale of the Luddite Riots by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty

There are three of us in the dug-out; two are playing chess, but I am reading—the same thing over and over again, for I am tired to death of lying idle, of sleeping and walking.
— from Tales of the Wilderness by Boris Pilniak

And we’re very fond of them and they of us.
— from The Soul of John Brown by Stephen Graham

[Pg 234] "There are two of us—two of us—two of us!" shrieked the macaw, hopping around and fluttering its brilliant plumage.
— from John Dough and the Cherub by L. Frank (Lyman Frank) Baum