Thus, in every ninth month they renewed the bloody ceremony, which was to last nine days, and every day they offered up nine living victims, whether men or animals.
— from The Germany and the Agricola of Tacitus by Cornelius Tacitus

“Yes,” he thought, “this is right; I am on the right road; I have the solution; I must end by holding fast to something; my resolve is taken; let things take their course; let us no longer vacillate; let us no longer hang back; this is for the interest of all, not for my own; I am Madeleine, and Madeleine I remain.
— from Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

Today, the discoveries taking place in our federally financed labs and universities could lead to new treatments that kill cancer cells, but leave healthy ones untouched, new lightweight vests for cops and soldiers that can stop any bullet.
— from State of the Union Addresses of Barack Obama, 2009-2016 by Barack Obama

The Ases had until now lived very much as they chose; he now gave to each of them a duty to perform: to Niord the management of rivers and of fishing; to Egir, the seas and navigation; and so to others, requiring regularity and accuracy of all, but sternly prohibiting the display of extreme zeal, just as Talleyrand used to do with his diplomatic apprentices.
— from Myths of the Rhine by M. Xavier

The murmur of the leaves 75 Many and idle, visits [826] not his ear: This he is freed from, and from thousand notes (Not less unceasing, not less vain than these,)
— from The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 5 (of 8) by William Wordsworth

We have all made miscalculations, or more frequently have simply omitted calculation altogether, preferring childish illusion to a manly examination of realities; and afterwards as life advances another illusion steals over us not less vain than the early one, but bitter as that was sweet.
— from The Intellectual Life by Philip Gilbert Hamerton

Let us not long violently after, or wish too eagerly to rise in life.
— from Daily Thoughts: selected from the writings of Charles Kingsley by his wife by Charles Kingsley

Repetition is the use of elements in a continuous series; Alternation is the repetition of an element at intervals, with others intervening; Symmetry : when the leading lines are equal or similar (or reciprocal) on both sides; Radiation : when the lines spring from a centre, for example, a bird’s wing and the flower of the daisy; Balance and Proportion : when the relation and harmony of parts is based upon natural laws; Variety implies difference in the details, with respect to form or type; Eurythmy signifies rhythms or harmony in ornament; Contrast is the arrangement in close proximity of colours or forms of opposite characters, as the straight line with the curve, or light with dark; Intersection is the crossing of the leading lines, the Arabian, Moresque and Celtic styles are examples of this principle; Complication is the effect produced by elements so arranged as to be more or less difficult to trace with the eye alone: as in the Japanese key and the Moresque star pattern.
— from A Manual of Historic Ornament Treating upon the evolution, tradition, and development of architecture and other applied arts. Prepared for the use of students and craftsmen by Richard Glazier