What is less possible for him to do than what he cannot do but at the expense of his faith and honour, things that, perhaps, ought to be dearer to him than his own safety, or even the safety of his people.
— from Essays of Michel de Montaigne — Complete by Michel de Montaigne

In perplexity I ask myself: This old, stout, clumsy woman, with sordid cares and anxiety about bread and butter written in the dull expression of her face, her eyes tired with eternal thoughts of debts and poverty, who can talk only of expenses and smile only when things are cheap—was this once the slim Varya whom I loved passionately for her fine clear mind, her pure soul, her beauty, and as Othello loved Desdemona, for her "compassion" of my science?
— from Project Gutenberg Compilation of 233 Short Stories of Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

In a time of perfect calm, amid willing neighbors and streaming wealth, the social uplifting of four million slaves to an assured and self-sustaining place in the body politic and economic would have been a herculean task; but when to the inherent difficulties of so delicate and nice a social operation were added the spite and hate of conflict, the hell of war; when suspicion and cruelty were rife, and gaunt Hunger wept beside Bereavement,—in such a case, the work of any instrument of social regeneration was in large part foredoomed to failure.
— from The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. (William Edward Burghardt) Du Bois

[105] The microscope cannot find the animalcule which is less perfect for being little.
— from Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson by Ralph Waldo Emerson

He lost his way in long passages for some six or eight minutes: till he heard the high-pitched, didactic voice of the doctor, and then the dull voice of the priest, followed by general laughter.
— from The Innocence of Father Brown by G. K. (Gilbert Keith) Chesterton

Thus, in his fatal garlands Deck'd fine and pleas'd, the wanton skips and plays, Trots by th' enticing, flatt'ring, priestess' side, And, much transported with its little pride, Forgets his dear companions of the plain; Till, by her bound, he's on the altar lain, Yet then too hardly bleats, such pleasure's in the pain.
— from Venice Preserved: A Tragedy by Thomas Otway

After much weary waiting, and many entreaties, he obtained three little ships from Queen Isabel of Spain; and with them, in the year 1492, came to the islands which he named the West Indies, lovely places, full of gentle natives with skins of a dark ruddy colour, wearing, for their misfortune, golden ornaments.
— from The Chosen People: A Compendium of Sacred and Church History for School-Children by Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary) Yonge

Early on the 21st the American army crossed the line of separation between Lower Canada and the United States, surprised the small party of Indian warriors and drove in a picket of sedentary militia posted at the junction of the Outard and Chateauguay Rivers, where it encamped, and proceeded in establishing a road of communication with its last position for the purpose of bringing forward its artillery.
— from Montreal, 1535-1914. Vol. 2. Under British Rule, 1760-1914 by William H. (William Henry) Atherton

To the earth they came at God's bidding, and that wondrous stone did tend, Nor was It less pure for their service, yet their task found at last an end.
— from Parzival: A Knightly Epic (vol. 1 of 2) by Wolfram, von Eschenbach, active 12th century

I was justified in feeling repelled by many empty allegorical pieces on public monuments, but during the first weeks I lacked perception for such good sculpture as is to be found in the foyer of the Théâtre Français.
— from Recollections of My Childhood and Youth by Georg Brandes

White sheep in great numbers and jet black goats crop the hill-sides; while in lower pastures feed the buffalo and the camel.
— from Life of Schamyl And Narrative of the Circassian War of Independence Against Russia by J. Milton (John Milton) Mackie