I see the vast alembic ever working, I see and know the flames that heat the world, The glow, the blush, the beating hearts of lovers, So blissful happy some, and some so silent, dark, and nigh to death; Love, that is all the earth to lovers—love, that mocks time and space, Love, that is day and night—love, that is sun and moon and stars, Love, that is crimson, sumptuous, sick with perfume, No other words but words of love, no other thought but love.
— from Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

Though I declared above, and perhaps too hastily, that I should not explain or justify my hero, I see that some explanation is necessary for the understanding of the rest of my story.
— from The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Little comforted by this, she clasped her hands upon her knee, and glancing upward, seemed, in silent anguish, to implore divine assistance; then, turning to me, she calmly said,—‘To-morrow, if you meet me on the moor about mid-day, I will tell you all you seek to know; and perhaps you will then see the necessity of discontinuing our intimacy—if, indeed, you do not willingly resign me as one no longer worthy of regard.’
— from The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë

This strange stillness, and the thoughts, always present to our knight’s mind, of the incidents described at every turn in the books that were the cause of his misfortune, conjured up to his imagination as extraordinary a delusion as can well be conceived, which was that he fancied himself to have reached a famous castle (for, as has been said, all the inns he lodged in were castles to his eyes), and that the daughter of the innkeeper was daughter of the lord of the castle, and that she, won by his high-bred bearing, had fallen in love with him, and had promised to come to his bed for a while that night without the knowledge of her parents; and holding all this fantasy that he had constructed as solid fact, he began to feel uneasy and to consider the perilous risk which his virtue was about to encounter, and he resolved in his heart to commit no treason to his lady Dulcinea del Toboso, even though the queen Guinevere herself and the dame Quintanona should present themselves before him.
— from The History of Don Quixote, Volume 1, Complete by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

The living ready-made sum-total of these three,—which Calculation cannot add, cannot bring on its tablets; yet the sum, we say, is written visible: All that has been done, All that is doing, All that will be done!
— from The French Revolution: A History by Thomas Carlyle

Mr. John Ruskin has been very severe upon the Italians for the humour with which they introduce Death as a person of their masque.
— from Demonology and Devil-lore by Moncure Daniel Conway

The best productions of the Indian drama are nearly a dozen in number, and date from a period embracing something like four hundred years, from about the beginning of the fifth to the end of the eighth century A.D.
— from A History of Sanskrit Literature by Arthur Anthony Macdonell

Each time I dip a living creature into the bath of burning pain, I say, ‘This time I will burn out all the animal; this time I will make a rational creature of my own!’
— from The Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. (Herbert George) Wells

the old man said; “Dark lowers the tempest overhead, 11 The roaring torrent is deep and wide!”
— from Latin for Beginners by Benjamin L. (Benjamin Leonard) D'Ooge

It was so many of these people that had information, that I knew I didn't have time to take this information down, and by this time several deputy sheriffs were standing there, and one of them, I think he was a supervisor, I had his name at one time, I can't think of it now, was there, and he offered the use of an interrogation room of Sheriff Decker's office, I think he said, for interrogating these people.
— from Warren Commission (06 of 26): Hearings Vol. VI (of 15) by United States. Warren Commission

“I think I dropped asleep.
— from The Woman-Haters by Joseph Crosby Lincoln

They then demanded who this Stranger was, at whose Mercy the Fellow lay; but the Prince, who now found himself venturing for his last Stake, made no Reply; but with two Swords in his Hands went to fight his Way through the Rabble; And tho’ there were above a hundred Persons, some with Swords, others with long Whips, (as Coachmen) so invincible was the Courage of this poor unfortunate Gentleman at that Time, that all these were not able to seize him; but he made his Way through the Ring that encompassed him, and ran away; but was, however, so closely pursued, the Company still gathering as they ran, that toiled with fighting, oppressed with Guilt, and Fear of being taken, he grew fainter and fainter, and suffered himself, at last, to yield to his Pursuers, who soon found him to be Prince Tarquin in Disguise: And they carry’d him directly to Prison, being Sunday , to wait the coming Day, to go before a Magistrate.
— from The Works of Aphra Behn, Volume V by Aphra Behn

I can't have her in the play with me, though I did at first, before the puppy chewed her."
— from Bunny Brown and his Sister Sue Giving a Show by Laura Lee Hope

It is comparatively a safe thoroughfare in daylight, and after dark, if one is on constant guard, he may safely pass unharmed.
— from Danger! A True History of a Great City's Wiles and Temptations The Veil Lifted, and Light Thrown on Crime and its Causes, and Criminals and their Haunts. Facts and Disclosures. by William F. Howe

This I did, and entering the chamber, I found her of more cheerful countenance, and like one in good health.
— from Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England by Bede, the Venerable, Saint

Most certain of one mother, mighty king,— That is well known; and, as I think, one father: But for the certain knowledge of that truth I put you o'er to heaven and to my mother:— Of that I doubt, as all men's children may.
— from King John by William Shakespeare

In endeavouring to escape beyond sea the day afterwards, he was taken in disguise at Gravesend, brought to Westminster, and examined before King and Council.
— from Notes and Queries, Vol. V, Number 125, March 20, 1852 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. by Various

The attaché was trained in diplomacy, and the rudiments of diplomacy should teach the face to become a mask when need be, yet, as his eyes met those of Saxon, he suddenly and involuntarily stiffened.
— from The Key to Yesterday by Charles Neville Buck