So Christian went on his way, saying-- "Here I have seen things rare and profitable; Things pleasant, dreadful, things to make me stable In what I have begun to take in hand; Then let me think on them, and understand Wherefore they showed me were, and let me be Thankful, O good Interpreter, to thee.
— from The Pilgrim's Progress from this world to that which is to come Delivered under the similitude of a dream, by John Bunyan by John Bunyan

But when I came again to myself and to resume my faculties: “Ut tandem sensus convaluere mei,” [“When at length my lost senses again returned.”
— from Essays of Michel de Montaigne — Complete by Michel de Montaigne

The squire said, he did not pretend to the breeding of any thing but colts; but that the jade would be very handsome, if she was a little more in flesh.
— from The Expedition of Humphry Clinker by T. (Tobias) Smollett

That little animal, the Hare, is associated with a large mythology, perhaps because out of its weakness proceeds its main forces of survival—timidity, vigilance, and swiftness.
— from Demonology and Devil-lore by Moncure Daniel Conway

“See here,” he said, “we don’t want any lawyers mixed up in this.
— from The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie

"It was," answered Luke Marks, "it was written by Mr. Talboys, every line of it.
— from Lady Audley's Secret by M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon

The young man, tall, agile and athletic, wore a mass of black shining curls clustering round a dark and vivacious countenance which, if it had not greater expression, was at least more active and attracted readier notice, than the quiet faces of our countrymen.
— from Twice Told Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne

" "Well, a little more, or a little less, 'twas a thousand pities that it should have happened to she, of all others.
— from Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman by Thomas Hardy

I was a little moved with envy,
— from The Diary of Samuel Pepys — Complete by Samuel Pepys

Mother married out of the sect, and, though she keeps many of her old ways, always left me free to believe what I chose.
— from Work: A Story of Experience by Louisa May Alcott

A man who writes about life must accept life for what it is, as largely an animal thing.
— from William Shakespeare by John Masefield

“Can you swim?” asked the Sailor, while all looked much chagrined.
— from The Brownies and Prince Florimel; Or, Brownieland, Fairyland, and Demonland by Palmer Cox

A very large part of the volume of Voltaire’s production consists of letters, written by him to correspondents perhaps more numerous, and more various in rank, from kings on the throne down to scribblers in the garret, than ever, in any other case, exchanged such communications with a literary man.
— from French Classics by William Cleaver Wilkinson

This was a lofty mountain or promontory almost surrounded by the sea, and connected with the main-land by a narrow isthmus.
— from Spanish Papers by Washington Irving

If his aunt disliked the notion of alterations in the old mills, there was a little mill near which had been worked in a small and unsuccessful way by a man without sufficient capital to carry it on, who would gladly let it to “Palmer Brothers,” as the Ingleby firm was still called, from Mr Thomas’s father and uncle.
— from Waynflete by Christabel R. (Christabel Rose) Coleridge

I daresay you think me very odd, and people say that I am so; I may ask you to do many odd things for me, but I shall never ask you to do what a lady may not do, or what would be incorrect for you to do, or for me to propose; that you may depend upon, Valerie: and now I close my manuscript for the present, being well satisfied with the day’s work.”
— from Valerie by Frederick Marryat

With a little management one can even manufacture living monstrosities.
— from Complete Project Gutenberg Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. Works by Oliver Wendell Holmes

I should at any time be most happy to advise you,' said Mr. Larkin, with a lofty and pleased benevolence, 'and with great pleasure, provisionally , until we can hit upon a satisfactory solicitor with a little more time at his disposal, I undertake the management of your case.'
— from Wylder's Hand by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu