Instead of far-fetched wit and fanciful diction, the classical school erected the standards of common sense in conception and directness in expression.
— from The Rape of the Lock and Other Poems by Alexander Pope

I remember, the day they finished the malt-house, I thought summat great was to come of it; for we'd a plum-pudding that day and a bit of a feast, and I said to my mother,–she was a fine dark-eyed woman, my mother was,–the little wench 'ull be as like her as two peas."
— from The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot

Feindlich ist die Welt / Und falsch gesinnt; 15 Es liebt ein jeder nur / Sich selbst —Hostile is the world, and falsely disposed.
— 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.

What I liked best about the spectacle was a wonderful and fantastic dance which was struck up at midnight.
— from The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt, 1725-1798. Complete by Giacomo Casanova

Miss Evelyn was again four days before she gave me another opportunity of an amorous meeting.
— from The Romance of Lust: A classic Victorian erotic novel by Anonymous

It was a fine day—I had some hours to spare—and I thought it likely, if I waited a little for him, that the Count might be tempted out.
— from The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

"Indeed, senora," said Sancho, "I never yet drank out of wickedness; from thirst I have very likely, for I have nothing of the hypocrite in me; I drink when I'm inclined, or, if I'm not inclined, when they offer it to me, so as not to look either strait-laced or ill-bred; for when a friend drinks one's health what heart can be so hard as not to return it?
— from Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

And I, the said Thomas Auld, for myself my heirs, executors, and administrators, all and singular, the said FREDERICK BAILY alias DOUGLASS, unto the said Hugh Auld, his executors, administrators, and assigns against me, the said Thomas Auld, my executors, and administrators, and against ali and every other person or persons whatsoever, shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents.
— from My Bondage and My Freedom by Frederick Douglass

The precautions with which the disciples of Christ performed the offices of religion were at first dictated by fear and necessity; but they were continued from choice.
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Table of Contents with links in the HTML file to the two Project Gutenberg editions (12 volumes) by Edward Gibbon

Dennie's guns had a salutary effect on the Wullee, and within a few days of the battle the old man prudently came to terms with the English, pledging himself no longer to harbour or assist Dost Mahomed or any of his family.
— from The First Afghan War by Mowbray Morris

My father's eye was quick to note this courtesy, and within a few days he regretfully spent money he could ill spare on a dress suit, determined never to put any one to that trouble for him again.
— from Charles Bradlaugh: a Record of His Life and Work, Volume 1 (of 2) With an Account of his Parliamentary Struggle, Politics and Teachings. Seventh Edition by Hypatia Bradlaugh Bonner

And the station which the soul occupies, when its devout affections are awakened, is always this: on the twilight, between immeasurable darkness and refreshing light; on the confines, between the seen and the unseen; where a little is discerned, and an infinitude concealed; where a few distinct conceptions stand, in confessed inadequacy, as symbols of ineffable realities: and we say, “Lo! these are part of his ways; but the thunder of his power, who can understand?”
— from Unitarianism Defended A Series of Lectures by Three Protestant Dissenting Ministers of Liverpool by John Hamilton Thom

The hard-working Italian hill peasant will sometimes toast himself a piece of corn bread before going to work, and eat it with a few drops of olive oil; and in the absence of tea or coffee, the people of the Middle Age often drank a mouthful of wine on rising to 'move the blood,' as they said.
— from Ave Roma Immortalis, Vol. 1 Studies from the Chronicles of Rome by F. Marion (Francis Marion) Crawford

He had his own and his brother's honour to avenge, and within a few days of the senate's decree permitting a renewal of the war, he had taken ship for the African province, where the whole army, withdrawn from Numidia in accordance with the compact, was now stationed in winter quarters.
— from A History of Rome During the Later Republic and Early Principate by A. H. J. (Abel Hendy Jones) Greenidge

The first customer who entered, and told him that it was a fine day, was assured that "Yes it was.
— from Mattie:—A Stray (Vol 3 of 3) by F. W. (Frederick William) Robinson

Its pictures are indicated with a few definite but repeated details.
— from The Century of the Child by Ellen Key

I remained on the boat for thirty-six hours; when, the water in the river being very low, and getting lower every day, and, seeing no prospect of our getting past this bar, I concluded to go ashore and work a few days, as I understood laborers were in demand in Evansville.
— from Gems for the Young Folks Fourth Book of the Faith-Promoting Series. Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-Day Saints. by Various