Was there ever, since the beginning of the 15 world, a universal vote given in favour of the worthiest man or thing?
— from Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources Including Phrases, Mottoes, Maxims, Proverbs, Definitions, Aphorisms, and Sayings of Wise Men, in Their Bearing on Life, Literature, Speculation, Science, Art, Religion, and Morals, Especially in the Modern Aspects of Them by Wood, James, Rev.

[278] Exercise immediately before meals is therefore, unless very gentle, injurious; if it has been violent, before eating rest should intervene.
— from The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness A Complete Hand Book for the Use of the Lady in Polite Society by Florence Hartley

Then sorrowed I, and sorrow now again, When I direct my mind to what I saw, And more my genius curb than I am wont, That it may run not unless virtue guide it; So that if some good star, or better thing, Have given me good, I may myself not grudge it.
— from Divine Comedy, Longfellow's Translation, Hell by Dante Alighieri

Incensus Canius cupiditate contendit a Pythio, ut venderet; gravate ille primo; quid multa?
— from De Officiis by Marcus Tullius Cicero

But, instead of standing there using vague generalities, it would be interesting if you would tell us what these old marrowless truths are, that we are nourished on.
— from An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen

To deliver his famous song, he chooses a conspicuous position in the top of some bush or low tree; then, with head uplifted and tail drooping—a favourite posture of all these lively singers—he makes us very glad indeed that we heard him.
— from Birds Every Child Should Know by Neltje Blanchan

The same gentleman (Mr. Pickering ) has said that the advocates of this measure seem to [14] rely much more upon their power than upon their right, and in this assertion I am compelled to say that he has done us very great injustice.
— from Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. 3 (of 16) by United States. Congress

And some of them talk to us very glibly, in their so-called 'Lives of Jesus Christ' about the alteration in Christ's plan which came when He saw that His message was not going to be received.
— from Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chapters I to XIV by Alexander Maclaren

The former of these forms of association is always more or less arbitrary; the latter is imperatorial and absolute; the one claims kinship with mere fancy and fashion; the other is reason in the realm of imagination rejoicing in the discovery of what under various guises is only a manifestation of the eternally Reasonable.
— from Four Phases of Morals: Socrates, Aristotle, Christianity, Utilitarianism by John Stuart Blackie

Dexter watched the curious horizontal undulating movement of the little serpent for some time before he touched it, and then taking it up very gently, its tail hung swinging to and fro, while the front portion curved and undulated, and searched about for a place to rest till it found one upon the boy’s arm, up which it began to glide as if the warmth were pleasant, ending by nestling its head in the hollow of the elbow-joint.
— from Quicksilver: The Boy With No Skid to His Wheel by George Manville Fenn

As a state of oldtime abundance in killable game, the killing records that were kept in the year 1909-10 possess for us very great interest.
— from Our Vanishing Wild Life: Its Extermination and Preservation by William T. (William Temple) Hornaday

And none of us shall remain away on any pretence or for any other reason whatsoever than this, namely, that he is labouring under very great infirmity; excepting moreover those only who may be in a foreign country, and at six days’ journey from their customary place of residence.
— from The Every-day Book and Table Book. v. 2 (of 3) or Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the Almanac by William Hone

The rooms occupied by the master and his family at first were few in number; separate bedrooms only came into use very gradually indeed.
— from Social Life in England Through the Centuries by H. R. Wilton Hall