Every man who held land under these conditions—and it was impossible to hold land without them—was of the upper class.
— from A Complete Guide to Heraldry by Arthur Charles Fox-Davies

As soon as they had penetrated into this sombre, dimly lit cavity they uttered cries of astonishment and admiration.
— from Complete Original Short Stories of Guy De Maupassant by Guy de Maupassant

For instance, he has told us clearly enough how Cleomenes took the town, preserved it from damage, and forthwith sent couriers to the Megalopolitans in Messene with a despatch, offering them the safe enjoyment of their country if they would throw in their lot with him;—and his object in telling all this is to enhance the magnanimity and moderation of Cleomenes towards his enemies.
— from The Histories of Polybius, Vol. 1 (of 2) by Polybius

In What Respects The Federal Constitution Is Superior To That Of The States In what respects the Constitution of the Union can be compared to that of the States—Superiority of the Constitution of the Union attributable to the wisdom of the Federal legislators—Legislature of the Union less dependent on the people than that of the States—Executive power more independent in its sphere—Judicial power less subjected to the inclinations of the majority—Practical consequence of these facts—The dangers inherent in a democratic government eluded by the Federal legislators, and increased by the legislators of the States.
— from Democracy in America — Volume 1 by Alexis de Tocqueville

For my part, I have walk’d about the streets, Submitting me unto the perilous night; And, thus unbraced, Casca, as you see, Have bar’d my bosom to the thunder-stone; And when the cross blue lightning seem’d to open The breast of heaven, I did present myself Even in the aim and very flash of it.
— from The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare

Cringing and snivelling himself before the blows or angry speech of a man, he revenged himself, in turn, upon creatures weaker than he.
— from White Fang by Jack London

If I attached any serious importance to such a perishable trifle as personal appearance, I might be inclined to add that hers was one of those unfortunate complexions which always suffer when not relieved by a border of white next the skin.
— from The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

Col. Selby, he said, belonged, gentlemen; to what is called the “upper classes.”
— from The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today by Charles Dudley Warner

The congregation, struck with the utmost consternation, fled in an instant from the place, leaving their affrighted teacher to shift for himself.
— from 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose

Nothing more until the moment when, like lightning, I saw the undaunted Captain hanging on to one of the creature's fins, struggling, as it were, hand to hand with the monster, and dealing successive blows at his enemy, yet still unable to give a decisive one.
— from Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea by Jules Verne

Traversing the entire length of the deck—past the houses of the sheep and pigs; past the great life-boats; past the half-closed door of the testing-room, where the operators maintained their unceasing watch in a flood of light; past the captain’s cabin, a species of land-mark or half-way house; past a group of cows and goats lying on the deck chewing the cud peacefully, and past offices and deck-cabins too numerous to mention,—he came at last to the fore-tank, which was so full of cable that the hands ready to act, and standing on the upper coil, had to stoop to save their heads from the deck above.
— from The Battery and the Boiler: Adventures in Laying of Submarine Electric Cables by R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne

We can hardly be surprised, after reading such atrocious doctrines, at what history tells us concerning the Jews, their crimes, and their condemnations.
— from The Jew, The Gypsy and El Islam by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir

Chloe mused and said, ‘I would add “good” to the unkindest comparison you could find for her.’
— from Complete Short Works of George Meredith by George Meredith

The danger of making a new principle apply too widely inculcates here the utmost caution.
— from Natural Law in the Spiritual World by Henry Drummond

Casting away the useless carbine, and pressing his horse to the limit of her strength and endurance, the unyielding pursuer rode in great coiling circles into the storm, to cut in, if possible, ahead of its victims, firing shot upon shot from his revolver, and putting his ear intently against the wind for the faint hope of an answer.
— from Nan of Music Mountain by Frank H. (Frank Hamilton) Spearman

The peasants evinced the usual curiosity.
— from Tent life with English Gipsies in Norway by Hubert (Solicitor) Smith

; so that a person who might pay a rate in every electoral division of the union, could only as the clause stood vote in one, although each electoral division was separately chargeable.
— from A history of the Irish poor law, in connexion with the condition of the people by Nicholls, George, Sir

Atticus himself, whose mind was bent on magnificence and money, and who, by his temporizing talents, endeavored to preserve the friendship of all parties, without enlisting in any, blushed for the unmanly conduct of Cicero; and in the censorial style of Cato, instead of his [138] own plausible dialect, severely reproached him for continuing so meanly attached to his former fortunes.
— from Solitude With the Life of the Author. In Two Parts by Johann Georg Zimmermann

These, he maintains, have all failed, have taught and still teach grievous errors, set up false claims, and one or more of them at least have fallen into superstitious practices; yet he contends that the universal church has not failed.
— from The Catholic World, Vol. 08, October, 1868, to March, 1869. by Various

Where open-hearth furnaces are employed, and the wire-mesh floor screens are not perfectly sound, fine ash may find its way into the upper chamber.
— from The Preparation of Plantation Rubber by Sidney Morgan