Yet the civilians have always respected the natural right of a citizen to dispose of his life . . .

But the severe rules of discipline which the prudence of the bishops had instituted were relaxed by the same prudence in favour of an Imperial proselyte, whom it was so important to allure, by every gentle condescension, into the pale of the church; and Constantine was permitted, at least by a tacit dispensation, to enjoy most of the privileges, before he had contracted any of the obligations, of a Christian.

[The] noblest of [Arabs] united the love of arms with the profession of merchandise.

I darted a contemptuous look at the stately models of superstition.

Hope, the best comfort of our imperfect condition.

Instead of pressing, with the foremost of the crowd, into the palace of Constantinople, Libanius calmly expected his arrival at Antioch; withdrew from court on the first symptoms of coldness and indifference; required a formal invitation for each visit; and taught his sovereign an important lesson, that he might command the obedience of a subject, but that he must deserve the attachment of a friend.

[All] the manly virtues were oppressed by the servile and pusillanimous reign of the monks.