It was remarkable to observe the aesthetic demoralisation into which I now fell through having daily to deal with such a work.
— from My Life — Volume 1 by Richard Wagner

"It is our pleasure (such is the Imperial style) that all the nations, which are governed by our clemency and moderation, should steadfastly adhere to the religion which was taught by St. Peter to the Romans; which faithful tradition has preserved; and which is now professed by the pontiff Damasus, and by Peter, bishop of Alexandria, a man of apostolic holiness.
— 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

I would say more than this, sir, were it not for the fear of giving you offence (here the speaker smiled blandly), I would say, sir, that your opinions are not the opinions to be expected from a gentleman.”
— from The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven Edition Table Of Contents And Index Of The Five Volumes by Edgar Allan Poe

The spirits of the old man again flickered up, as a lamp which is near its death hour.
— from The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven Edition Table Of Contents And Index Of The Five Volumes by Edgar Allan Poe

what a torment wouldst thou prove, Were it not thy sour leisure gave sweet leave, To entertain the time with thoughts of love, Which time and thoughts so sweetly doth deceive, And that thou teachest how to make one twain, By praising him here who doth hence remain.
— from Shakespeare's Sonnets by William Shakespeare

While, however, this term is used as the best that suggests itself, it cannot be accepted as limiting our inquiry or excluding other abstract forms which ideally correspond to the dragon,—the generalised expression for an active, powerful, and intelligent enemy to mankind, a being who is antagonism organised, and able to command every weapon in nature for an antihuman purpose.
— from Demonology and Devil-lore by Moncure Daniel Conway

“Well,” he asked, “that will do, will it not?”
— from Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas

My Lord, I should not act the Part of an impartial Spectator, if I Dedicated the following Papers to one who is not of the most consummate and most acknowledged Merit.
— from The Spectator, Volume 1 Eighteenth-Century Periodical Essays by Steele, Richard, Sir

As we walked into town to post it, Traddles and I held a long conference, and launched into a number of speculations, which I need not repeat.
— from David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Not only was it necessary to refund the capital which had been got together by dint of ever-increasing sacrifices, in order to defray the expenses of the publication of my operas; but, owing to the fact that I had been obliged ultimately to seek aid from the usurers, the rumour of my debts had spread so far abroad, that even those friends who had helped me at the time of my arrival in Dresden were seized with anxiety on my account.
— from My Life — Volume 1 by Richard Wagner

But the worthy lawyer, when she called, was in no condition to attend any longer to worldly concerns,—a circumstance which she greatly deplored, as she mentioned it to her son George, who, however, was far from sympathizing with her anxiety; on the contrary, the news, perhaps, afforded him particular satisfaction.
— from The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy by John Galt

It has often and justly been remarked, that what strikes a candid student of Mr. Darwin's works is not so much his industry, his knowledge, or even the surprising fertility of his inventive genius; but that unswerving truthfulness and honesty which never permit him to hide a weak place, or gloss over a difficulty, but lead him, on all occasions, to point out the weak places in his own armour, and even sometimes, it appears to me, to make admissions against himself which are quite unnecessary.
— from Darwiniana : Essays — Volume 02 by Thomas Henry Huxley

Just then I recalled the black, open window in front of me—far away—that night when I nearly died.
— from Light by Henri Barbusse

Dear Horatio , "Accidents, which at our parting neither of us could foresee, have doubtless long since made you cease to hope any continuance of that kindness my former behaviour seemed to promise; but never, perhaps did heaven deal its blessings with a more mysterious hand than it has done to you.--That seeming neglect in me, at a time when you were a prisoner among strangers, and had most need of my assistance, had the appearance of the greatest misfortune could befall you; yet has it been productive of the greatest good, and laid the foundation of a happiness which cannot be but lasting.--I reserve the explanation of this riddle till you arrive at Paris, where I now am, and intend to continue my whole life.--That I impatiently desire to see you, ought to be a sufficient inducement for you to return with as much expedition as possible:--I will therefore make this experiment of that affection, I might add duty, you owe me, and only give you leave to guess what recompence this proof of your obedience will entitle you to.--If therefore the king of Sweden is resolute to extend his conquests, entreat his permission to resign: I know the obligations you have to that excellent prince; but I know also you have others to me which cannot be dispensed with:--besides, his majesty's affairs cannot suffer by the loss of one man: yours will be in danger, if not totally ruined, by your continuance with him, and myself deprived at the same time of the only remaining comfort of my days.--Your sister left me soon after you did:--she went to Aix la Chapelle, since which I have never been able to hear any thing of her.--Let me not lose you both; if you have any regard for your own interest, or the peace of him whom you have ever found a father in his care and affection, and whom you will now find so more than you can possibly expect.
— from The Fortunate Foundlings Being the Genuine History of Colonel M——Rs, and His Sister, Madam Du P——Y, the Issue of the Hon. Ch——Es M——Rs, Son of the Late Duke of R—— L——D. Containing Many Wonderful Accidents That Befel Them in Their Travels, and Interspersed with the Characters and Adventures of Several Persons of Condition, In the Most Polite Courts of Europe. the Whole Calculated for the Entertainment and Improvement of the Youth of Both Sexes. by Eliza Fowler Haywood

At that time they were stiff with ice, now the sap, softened by the Spring rain, was dripping from them.
— from On the Cross: A Romance of the Passion Play at Oberammergau by Wilhelmine von Hillern

To take our place in the assembly of God's people, and appear to take part in the holy fellowship and worship pertaining thereto, while living in secret sin, or allowing evil in others, is to defile the assembly, grieve the Holy Ghost, sin against Christ, and bring down upon us the judgment of God, who is now judging His house and chastening His children in order that they may not ultimately be condemned with the world.
— from Notes on the Book of Deuteronomy, Volume II by Charles Henry Mackintosh

Were it not for her
— from Eric Brighteyes by H. Rider (Henry Rider) Haggard

On the land side, the promontory is covered with short grass, and slopes steeply down to a little isthmus, upon which the sea has encroached in creeks, [Pg 2] which, advancing from either side of the island, gradually work their way forward, and seem as if in a short time they would form a junction, and altogether insulate Sumburgh-Head, when what is now a cape, will become a lonely mountain islet, severed from the mainland, of which it is at present the terminating extremity.
— from The Pirate Andrew Lang Edition by Walter Scott

It is a disregard for historical Continuity which induces that mistaken antipathy to all forms of inheritance which is now so common.
— from A General View of Positivism Or, Summary exposition of the System of Thought and Life by Auguste Comte

Both lips and finger tips are dried on the napkin, which is not afterwards folded.
— from Practical Etiquette by Cora C. Klein