To have a clear notion on this point of time, is very important, in order to be able to decide whether, with the prompt assistance of reinforcements, the combat can again be resumed with advantage.
— from On War — Volume 1 by Carl von Clausewitz

' Returning to the dining-room, and pausing for an instant behind the screen at the door, Eugene overhears, above the hum and clatter, the fair Tippins saying: 'I am dying to ask him what he was called out for!' 'Are you?' mutters Eugene, 'then perhaps if you can't ask him, you'll die.
— from Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens

I have as much to wish for as another, and allow my wishes as much liberty and indiscretion; but yet it never befell me to wish for either empire or royalty, or the eminency of those high and commanding fortunes: I do not aim that way; I love myself too well.
— from Essays of Michel de Montaigne — Complete by Michel de Montaigne

It is impossible to express the astonishment of these poor creatures at the noise and fire of my gun: some of them were even ready to die for fear, and fell down as dead with the very terror; but when they saw the creature dead, and sunk in the water, and that I made signs to them to come to the shore, they took heart and came, and began to search for the creature.
— from The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

They have a cold spring there, and she used to bathe in it regularly every day, and no sooner had she got into the water when she suddenly had a stroke!”
— from Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Once more, therefore, those who wish to succeed in military projects and operations must have studied geometry, not with professional completeness, but far enough to have a comprehension of proportion and equations.
— from The Histories of Polybius, Vol. 1 (of 2) by Polybius

The little people who now play on that spot know nothing of the old tale, else would they fancy they heard a child crying deep below the earth, and the dewdrops on each blade of grass would be to them tears of woe.
— from Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen by H. C. (Hans Christian) Andersen

My friend Patu wished to have a copy of that portrait; one cannot refuse such a slight service to a friend, and I gave an order for it to the same painter.
— from The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt, 1725-1798. Complete by Giacomo Casanova

Now this has a close parallel in the Archipelago.
— from Malay Magic Being an introduction to the folklore and popular religion of the Malay Peninsula by Walter William Skeat

Then will I take him and cast him into the river, and none will know."
— from Barclay of the Guides by Herbert Strang

From my uncle's lips there came a cry terrible to hear, a cry which mingled with the shouts of those who could catch Oliver's words; then with another and a shorter cry, more resembling a gasp, he fell fainting into the arms of Considine.
— from The Land of Bondage: A Romance by John Bloundelle-Burton

And you shall be filled with joy and gladness; and know this, that in the day of judgment you shall be judges of that house, and condemn them; 22.
— from History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Volume 1 Period 1. History of Joseph Smith, the Prophet by Smith, Joseph, Jr.

His object in undertaking this long and tedious journey was to study at comparative leisure the line of country which he traversed, and the habits and condition
— from Sword and Pen Ventures and Adventures of Willard Glazier by John Algernon Owens

The hatred and contempt of the Governor's friends for Colonel Jeffreys and his colleagues is shown by an interesting and unique incident.
— from Virginia under the Stuarts 1607-1688 by Thomas Jefferson Wertenbaker

coyned of the Harp and Crosse money, and of this there was 500,000l. brought in upon its being called in.
— from The Diary of Samuel Pepys by Samuel Pepys

It being, then, almost impossible, or, at least, extremely difficult, for man to arrive, through the sole action of the faculties inherent in his nature, at his intended goal, to shape his course accordingly, and thus to lay the foundations of his future happiness, it was necessary that an intelligence far superior to his own should come to his assistance, communicate to him some fundamental truths concerning his present and future life, enlighten his intellect, guide his reason, invigorate his will in the paths of truth, justice, and righteousness, and thus facilitate to him the attainment of his sublime destination.
— from A Guide for the Religious Instruction of Jewish Youth by Isaac Samuel Reggio

Now I have taken collar to this arrangement, I find an open sea before me which I could not have anticipated, for though I should get through well enough with my expectations during the year, yet it is a great thing to have a certainty to be clear as a new pin of every penny of debt.
— from The Journal of Sir Walter Scott From the Original Manuscript at Abbotsford by Walter Scott

Everie order and decree of the Counsell of State shalbe concluded by the major parte of voices at that Assembly, wherin the Governor for the time being is to have a casting voice if the nomber of Counsellors should bee even or should bee equally devided in oppinnion; neverthelesse reserving to the said Governor a negative voice att any Generall Assembly according to a former comission granted.
— from The Three Charters of the Virginia Company of London With Seven Related Documents; 1606-1621 by Virginia 350th Anniversary Celebration Corporation

Probably the unwieldy creature was regarded by the Parthians as too heavy and clumsy for the light and rapid movements of their armies, and was thus disused during the period of their supremacy, though again employed, after Parthia had fallen, by the Sassanidse.
— from The Seven Great Monarchies Of The Ancient Eastern World, Vol 6: Parthia The History, Geography, And Antiquities Of Chaldaea, Assyria, Babylon, Media, Persia, Parthia, And Sassanian or New Persian Empire; With Maps and Illustrations. by George Rawlinson