True, water is softer than your own delicate hands, and yet it polishes stones into shapes; it feels no pain as your fingers would feel, it has no soul, and cannot suffer such agony and torment as you will have to endure.
— from Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen by H. C. (Hans Christian) Andersen

Ah, wondrous hopes my poor heart had in you, How you would tend me in mine age, and do The shroud about me with your own dear hands, When I lay cold, blessèd in all the lands That knew us.
— from Medea of Euripides by Euripides

The Physician gave you over, declaring himself ignorant how to extract the venom: I knew but of one means, and hesitated not a moment to employ it.
— from The Monk: A Romance by M. G. (Matthew Gregory) Lewis

His first law is to provide for his own preservation, his first cares are those which he owes to himself; and, as soon as he reaches years of discretion, he is the sole judge of the proper means of preserving himself, and consequently becomes his own master.
— from The Social Contract & Discourses by Jean-Jacques Rousseau

"Then what, in your opinion, does he need?
— from Fathers and Sons by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev

Young Ibarra is a youth of discernment; he doesn’t seem to be a fool, but I believe that he is a good lad.”
— from The Social Cancer: A Complete English Version of Noli Me Tangere by José Rizal

Tell me also, did you let him have the ship of your own free will because he asked you, or did he take it without your leave?
— from The Odyssey Rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original by Homer

In the morning the elder wife should forcibly make the younger one decorate herself in the presence of their husband, and should not mind all the husband's favour being given to her.
— from The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana Translated From the Sanscrit in Seven Parts With Preface, Introduction and Concluding Remarks by Vatsyayana

Then, when he came to years of discretion, he could pick for himself.
— from The Dominant Strain by Anna Chapin Ray

Up and down every where, I strew the herbs to purge the air: Let your Odour drive hence All mists that dazel sence.
— from The Faithful Shepherdess The Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher (Volume 2 of 10). by John Fletcher

You've some feeling for your own daughter, haven't you?
— from The Straw by Eugene O'Neill

"You are right, you only do her justice!" rejoined Maurice.
— from Fairy Fingers A Novel by Anna Cora Ogden Mowatt Ritchie

"What matters his miserable life, when none of us are sure of twelve hours' breath?—On, fool, to your own destruction!" He made way for Jervase Helwyse, who immediately ascended the staircase, but on the first landing-place was arrested by the firm grasp of a hand upon his shoulder.
— from Twice Told Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne

From the magazine page and the public platform the prophet of evil, thinking himself a friend of humanity, solemnly warns against the arid region and dry-farming, for the year of drouth, he says, is sure to come again and then will be repeated the disasters of 1893-1895.
— from Dry-Farming : A System of Agriculture for Countries under a Low Rainfall by John Andreas Widtsoe

Muskwa, however, thought this was the preliminary of another tremendous fight, and with a yelp of defiance he darted down the slope and set upon Pipoonaskoos with all his might.
— from The Grizzly King: A Romance of the Wild by James Oliver Curwood

Was he engaged by you, or did he offer himself?"
— from A Man's Man by Ian Hay

Do you recall any conversation with Ruby about that—what he said to you, or did he say anything?
— from Warren Commission (15 of 26): Hearings Vol. XV (of 15) by United States. Warren Commission