A central gravitation in the power of Christianity has drawn to one point and converged into one tendency all capital agencies in all degrees of remoteness, making them tend to rest and unity; whilst, again, by an antagonist action, one vast centrifugal force, measured against the other, has so modified the result as to compel the intellect of man into divergencies answering to the line of convergence; balancing the central rest for man's hopes by everlasting motion for his intellect, and the central unity for man's conscience by everlasting progress for his efforts.
— from The Posthumous Works of Thomas De Quincey, Vol. 2 by Thomas De Quincey

While the rest of us unloaded the wagon, McCann, who was swearing by both note and rhyme, unearthed his saddle from amongst the other plunder and cinched it on his nigh wheeler.
— from The Log of a Cowboy: A Narrative of the Old Trail Days by Andy Adams

The wild tales of Britain and Brittany, of thefts and revenges by the sea-creatures, are among the oldest of their myths, and when we cross to our side of the sea, the ocean people are close in our wake and they follow us through the fresh waters and far out in the Pacific.
— from Myths & Legends of our New Possessions & Protectorate by Charles M. (Charles Montgomery) Skinner

In these, Israel, whether as a tribe or as a people, is often described as associating with other tribes or peoples, and comparing its own god with theirs, a common basis of religious belief being assumed.
— from The Origin and Development of Christian Dogma: An essay in the science of history by Charles A. H. Tuthill

These, at least, are the ideas which divines wish us to form respecting the creation, if such a thing were possible as that of possessing a clear idea of a [Pg 48] pure spirit producing matter.
— from Letters to Eugenia; Or, A Preservative Against Religious Prejudices by Holbach, Paul Henri Thiry, baron d'

[pg 270] Almost all modern didactic poems, whether treating of theology or physics, are composed in obvious imitation of the style and manner of Lucretius.
— from History of Roman Literature from its Earliest Period to the Augustan Age. Vol. I by John Colin Dunlop

They have sought, and are seeking, to establish “Anarchy in the midst of the state, war in times of peace, and conspiracy in open day.”
— from Anarchy and Anarchists A History of the Red Terror and the Social Revolution in America and Europe; Communism, Socialism, and Nihilism in Doctrine and in Deed; The Chicago Haymarket Conspiracy and the Detection and Trial of the Conspirators by Michael J. Schaack

It is said that the Tectosages took part in the expedition to Delphi, and that the treasures found in the city of Toulouse by the Roman general Cæpio formed a portion of the booty gained there, which was afterwards increased by offerings which the citizens made from their own property, and consecrated in order to conciliate the god.
— from The Geography of Strabo, Volume 1 (of 3) Literally Translated, with Notes by Strabo

Place this pattern on the oblong piece and cut it out with shears or a cold chisel.
— from The Library of Work and Play: Working in Metals by Charles Conrad Sleffel

It was merely a thread of possibility, a chance, if other expedients had failed, but thoroughly worth taking.
— from The Secret Witness by George Gibbs