One of his darkest miseries in the unhealthy morbid past days had been his hatred of being a sickly weak-backed boy whose father was afraid to look at him.
— from The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

I had heard that madmen have unnatural strength; and as I knew I was a madman—at times anyhow—I resolved to use my power.
— from Dracula by Bram Stoker

Coming then into my chamber, and seeing me lie alone, with my face turned from the light towards the inside of the bed, he, without more ado, just slipped off his breeches, for the greater ease and enjoyment of the naked touch; and softly turning up my petticoats and shift behind, opened the prospect of the back avenue to the genial seat of pleasure; where, as I lay at my side length, inclining rather face downward, I appeared full fair, and liable to be entered.
— from Memoirs of Fanny Hill A New and Genuine Edition from the Original Text (London, 1749) by John Cleland

But at times, oh Holly, the almost infinite mind grows impatient of the slowness of the very finite, and am I tempted to use my power out of vexation—very nearly wast thou dead, but I remembered——.
— from She by H. Rider (Henry Rider) Haggard

Now, when the Jarnac in question was slain in fair fight by La Chateignerie by a blow au jarret , it was an unexpected blow, but not surely, as Littré tells us, manœuvre perfide , déloyale .
— from Napoleon's Letters to Josephine, 1796-1812 For the First Time Collected and Translated, with Notes Social, Historical, and Chronological, from Contemporary Sources by Emperor of the French Napoleon I

When I travel I have nothing to care for but myself, and the laying out my money; which is disposed of by one single precept; too many things are required to the raking it together; in that I understand nothing; in spending, I understand a little, and how to give some show to my expense, which is indeed its principal use; but I rely too ambitiously upon it, which renders it unequal and difform, and, moreover, immoderate in both the one and the other aspect; if it makes a show, if it serve the turn, I indiscreetly let it run; and as indiscreetly tie up my purse-strings, if it does not shine, and does not please me.
— from Essays of Michel de Montaigne — Complete by Michel de Montaigne

The defection was discussed in all its bearings, but it seemed sadly clear at last that this uncle must possess some innate badness of character and fondness for low company.
— from The Golden Age by Kenneth Grahame

From a photograph, copyright by Underwood & Underwood RUINS OF THE TEMPLE OF APOLLO AT DELPHI As soon as I had descended from the car and begun to unpack my provisions, an elderly man came up, asked whether we were from Athens, and then put the question that is forever on the lips of the Greek, “What is the news?”
— from The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine (June 1913) Vol. LXXXVI. New Series: Vol. LXIV. May to October, 1913 by Various

It is a pity that I am not in a situation to use my pen in your behalf though you do not seem to need the assistance of newspaper scribblers.
— from Historic Homes of New England by Mary Harrod Northend

I will, without letting her know that I love her, give her to understand my position and her own.
— from The Bridge of the Gods A Romance of Indian Oregon. 19th Edition. by Frederic Homer Balch

Up on deck brother Bartholomew, who has developed some grievous complaint of the jaws and teeth—complaint not known to us more particularly, but dreadful enough from that description—does his duty also, with that heroic manfulness that has marked his whole career; and somewhere in the ship young Ferdinand is sheltering from the sprays and breaking seas, finding his world of adventure grown somewhat gloomy and sordid of late, and feeling that he has now had his fill of the sea . . . . Shut your eyes and let the illusions of time and place fade from you; be with them for a moment on this last voyage; hear that eternal foaming and crashing of great waves, the shrieking of wind in cordage, the cracking and slatting of the sails, the mad lashing of loose ropes; the painful swinging, and climbing up and diving down, and sinking and staggering and helpless strivings of the small ship in the waste of water.
— from Christopher Columbus and the New World of His Discovery — Volume 8 by Filson Young

I took up my position on a little hill west of the camp, near our guns.
— from My Reminiscences of East Africa by General von (Paul Emil) Lettow-Vorbeck

So, while I still have the liberty to use my pen, I mean to make my protest and throw back the burden you want to put upon me.
— from Punch or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, September 23, 1914 by Various

After our conversation I realized quite plainly that under my present identity I could not possibly think of Lady Sybil except as a very charming and a very valued friend.
— from A Prince of Sinners by E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim