Besides my having to compose several preparatory pieces, and, amongst others, the overture, all the recitative, with which I was charged, was extremely difficult on account of the necessity there was of connecting, in a few verses, and by very rapid modulations, symphonies and choruses, in keys very different from each other; for I was determined neither to change nor transpose any of the airs, that Rameau might not accuse me of having disfigured them.
— from The Confessions of Jean Jacques Rousseau — Complete by Jean-Jacques Rousseau

The spectral voice repeats more solemnly, "Go away!"
— from Bleak House by Charles Dickens

The combination of these two doctrines gives us the view that moral rules are essentially laws of God, which men are impelled to obey, solely or mainly, from fear or hope of divine punishments or rewards; and some such view as this seems to be widely accepted, by plain men without very refined moral sensibilities.
— from The Methods of Ethics by Henry Sidgwick

While reading a French mathematical work I happened to come across, the following statement: "A very remarkable magic square of 8, in two degrees, has been constructed by M. Pfeffermann.
— from Amusements in Mathematics by Henry Ernest Dudeney

We all expected the resolution of Senator Howard, of Michigan, virtually restoring Mr. Stanton to his office, would pass the Senate, and knowing that the President expected General Grant to hold on, I inquired if he had given notice of his change of purpose; he answered that there was no hurry, because he supposed Mr. Stanton would pursue toward him (Grant) the same course which he (Stanton) had required of him the preceding August, viz., would address him a letter claiming the office, and allow him a couple of days for the change.
— from Memoirs of General William T. Sherman — Complete by William T. (William Tecumseh) Sherman

II I love within your oblong eyes the verdant rays, My sweet!
— from The Flowers of Evil by Charles Baudelaire

Le lendemain Mme M... sort, Mme V... revient: «Ma sœur y est-elle?--Oui, madame,» répond le suisse.
— from French Conversation and Composition by Harry Vincent Wann

Jupiter brilliant, Mars fiery, Lucifer is glowing, Vesper refulgent, Mercury sparkling, the Moon mild; the Sun, when he rises, is blazing, afterwards he becomes radiating.
— from The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 1 (of 6) by the Elder Pliny

“We will then, if you please, vicar,” replied Mr. Seymour, “walk to the Geological Temple, where I have lately deposited some specimens which you have not yet seen.”
— from Philosophy in Sport Made Science in Earnest Being an Attempt to Illustrate the First Principles of Natural Philosophy by the Aid of Popular Toys and Sports by John Ayrton Paris

With Miss Maria Rose there was Miss Margaret, a tall slender figure with every characteristic of a genuine Kentucky girl, a very respectable maiden, she was caressing for Miss Maria Rose with motherly tenderness, she was the playmate and constant companion of Miss Maria now passing the bridge of her teens; yet Miss Margaret could not tolerate seeing her leaning on the rails of the Germania, she appeared presumably afraid that some terrible whale might swallow her little Maria whom she loved as [Pg 42] much as a mother could love her own child, a pleasure which she never had, to know and to love a child of her own, and Maria appeared to appreciate the kindness of her governess.
— from Conversion of a High Priest into a Christian Worker by M. (Meletios) Golden

"Yes," Bloodson remarked, "that plan is simple, and for that very reason must succeed.
— from The Pirates of the Prairies: Adventures in the American Desert by Gustave Aimard

It would be hard to find a worse example of [Pg 59] confused thinking than that of the following passage: "The idea that the organism as a whole cannot be explained from a physico-chemical viewpoint rests most strongly on the existence of animal instincts and will.
— from Science and Morals and Other Essays by Windle, Bertram Coghill Alan, Sir

Is my nose very red, Miss Sherrard?"
— from Wild Kitty by L. T. Meade

“I think Mr Hallam is a very remarkable man,” she said.
— from The Stronger Influence by F. E. Mills (Florence Ethel Mills) Young

Vade retro me, Satana! "
— from The Firebrand by S. R. (Samuel Rutherford) Crockett

The voices rose more shrill.
— from The Convert by Elizabeth Robins

Since it appears, that our simple impressions are prior to their correspondent ideas, and that the exceptions are very rare, method seems to require we should examine our impressions, before we consider our ideas.
— from A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume