In the course of my life I have often had intimations in dreams 'that I should compose music.'
— from Phaedo by Plato

After all, I reflected, I was like my neighbours; and then I smiled, comparing myself with other men, comparing my active good-will with the lazy cruelty of their neglect.
— from The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

God forbid that I should call myself innocent, while my conscience is burthened with sin.’
— from The Expedition of Humphry Clinker by T. (Tobias) Smollett

doth she think, if she can make vools of other volk, she can make one of me?—No, no, I know her better than thee dost.”
— from History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding

“Well, you’ve put me into such a fright that I shall certainly make a fool of myself, and very likely break something too.
— from The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

By and by comes Alderman Maynell and Mr. Viner, and there my Lord Treasurer did intreat them to furnish me with money upon my tallys, Sir Philip Warwicke before my Lord declaring the King’s changing of the hand from Mr. Povy to me, whom he called a very sober person, and one whom the Lord Treasurer would owne in all things that I should concern myself with them in the business of money.
— from The Diary of Samuel Pepys — Complete by Samuel Pepys

Deny me this correspondence, this internal sense, confine me to the fragmentary, incoherent touch-world, and lo, I become as a bat which wanders about on the wing.
— from The World I Live In by Helen Keller

The Beast, who had been sighing dolefully while she spoke, now replied: “I cannot refuse you anything you ask, even though it should cost me my life.
— from The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

It is at his Instance that I shall continue my rural Speculations to the End of this Month; several having made up separate Sets of them, as they have done before of those relating to Wit, to Operas, to Points of Morality, or Subjects of Humour.
— from The Spectator, Volume 1 Eighteenth-Century Periodical Essays by Steele, Richard, Sir

After all, I reflected, I was like my neighbours; and then I smiled, comparing myself with other men, comparing my active goodwill with the lazy cruelty of their neglect.
— from The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Second, I shall show you how far Christ extendeth this his office of advocateship-I mean, in matters concerning the people of God, And then, Third, I shall come more directly to show who they are that have Christ for their Advocate.
— from Works of John Bunyan — Complete by John Bunyan

Yet if I be the cause of giving to but one person the pleasure of a moment in perusing these pages, and still more, if one be thence inspired to send a whisper of love to the saintly beings carolled in them, I shall consider myself happy, and my labors more than sufficiently repaid.
— from The Catholic World, Vol. 05, April 1867 to September 1867 by Various

I must trust some one, and I'd better confide in my little wife than in some canting methodistical fellow of a trustee, who would speculate my daughter's money upon some Stock-Exchange hazard, and levant to Australia when it was all swamped.
— from Birds of Prey by M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon

Mr. Crobble had promised that I should continue my studies, being much pleased with the proof I had been fortunate enough to give him of my progress, generously offering to defray the charges of tuition; and I found in my new place, even more time than when in the employ of Mr. Timmis: for, indeed, half-a-clerk would have been sufficient to have conducted the whole business.
— from Sketches by Seymour — Volume 05 by Robert Seymour

On the 17th of May the Inca sent certain macaws and baskets of earth nuts to the Treasurer Merlo and the Judge Matienzo.
— from The War of Quito by Pedro de Cieza de León

Treason in some countries may be an act of magnanimity, but here it is the worst of all crimes, because it aims at the destruction of the best Government and the happiest society in the world.
— from Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. 3 (of 16) by United States. Congress

"It is amid all these motives of emulation, that I shall continue my studies.
— from Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. 1 (of 16) by United States. Congress

"I intend that it shall concern me," the girl answered, taking a step forward.
— from Inside the Lines by Robert Welles Ritchie