In Jane Austen's Persuasion, Anne Elliot happens to overhear a conversation between Captain Wentworth and Louisa Musgrove, where they are discussing "firmness of mind". Captain Wentworth uses the example of a nearby nut to illustrate his point: [']Here is a nut,' said he, catching one down from ...

In Chapter 10, "Criticizing a Book Fairly", Adler wrote: The third [general maxim of intellectual etiquette] is closely related to the second. It states another condition prior to the undertaking of criticism. It recommends that you regard disagreements as capable of being resolved. Where the se...

From John Le Carré's Smiley's People: “What section are you in, Mostyn?” Smiley asked him. “Oddbins, sir.” He crouched, level to the table, displaying an Asian suppleness. “Since your day, actually, sir. It’s a sort of operational pool. Mainly probationers waiting for overseas postings.” I th...