Theme: power
Gulliver's Travels / Imperial Vulnerability
The empress’s apartment on fire by an accident; the author instrumental in saving the rest of the palace. The empire of Blefuscu is an island situated...
Gulliver's Travels / Morality and Justice
The emperor also confers on him some public mark of his favour, and proclamation is made of his innocence through the whole city. They look upon fraud...
Dracula / Intimacy and Control
He rubbed the brandy, as on another occasion, on her lips and gums and on her wrists and the palms of her hands. He said to me:-- “I can do this, all ...
A Journey to the Centre of the Earth / Unprepared Voyage
We are utterly unprepared for a sea voyage; it is simply madness to think of performing a journey of five hundred leagues upon a wretched pile of beam...
A Journey to the Centre of the Earth / Frozen Frontiers
To the east one only existed somewhere about the eightieth degree of latitude, the Esk, upon the island of Jan Mayen, not far from the frozen regions ...
Gulliver's Travels / Isolation and Discovery
Three days after my arrival, walking out of curiosity to the north-east coast of the island, I observed, about half a league off in the sea, somewhat ...
Dracula / Social Dynamics
We once carried out a small matter of renting some chambers for him when he was the Honourable Arthur Holmwood. If you will let me have his lordship’s...
Dracula / Strategic Forethought
As usual Van Helsing had thought ahead of everyone else, and was prepared with an exact ordering of our work. “It is perhaps well,” he said, “that at ...
Gulliver's Travels / Horses and Humanity
When I asserted that the _Yahoos_ were the only governing animals in my country, which my master said was altogether past his conception, he desired t...
Gulliver's Travels / Courtly Rituals
A messenger was despatched half a day’s journey before us, to give the king notice of my approach, and to desire, “that his majesty would please to ap...
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes / Secrets and Reputation
Hatherley, as being a man who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet and capable of preserving a secret.’ “I bowed, feeling as ...
Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea / Granite Majesty
At last, after about four hours, this marvellous excursion came to an end. A wall of superb rocks, in an imposing mass, rose before us, a heap of giga...
Gulliver's Travels / Futility of Conflict
Neither are any wars so furious and bloody, or of so long a continuance, as those occasioned by difference in opinion, especially if it be in things i...
Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea / Structural Resilience
I felt the steel plates tremble at the fastenings of the bolts; its bars bent, its partitions groaned; the windows of the saloon seemed to curve under...
Gulliver's Travels / Observing Power
and, the space being so wide between that and the palace, I could easily view it on every side.
Gulliver's Travels / Savage Satire
This favourite is hated by the whole herd, and therefore, to protect himself, keeps always near the person of his leader. He usually continues in offi...
Dracula / Burden of Secrecy
Henceforth our work is to be a sealed book to her, till at least such time as we can tell her that all is finished, and the earth free from a monster ...
Around the World in Eighty Days / Judicial Tension
Just as the clerk was calling the next case, he rose, and said, “I offer bail.” “You have that right,” returned the judge. Fix’s blood ran cold, but h...
Dracula / Tension and Touch
The nails were long and fine, and cut to a sharp point. As the Count leaned over me and his hands touched me, I could not repress a shudder.
A Journey to the Centre of the Earth / Intimacy and Vulnerability
To my surprise, or rather to my stupefaction, he placed it to my lips. I looked at him, with, I am sure, quite an idiotic expression.
Gulliver's Travels / Surrender and Awe
The astonishment here was much greater than at the sight of my scimitar. Hundreds fell down as if they had been struck dead; and even the emperor, alt...
Dracula / Transformation and Control
As he dare not change to man’s form without suspicion--which he evidently wishes to avoid--he must remain in the box. If, then, we can come on board a...
Gulliver's Travels / Motivations of War
Sometimes a war is entered upon, because the enemy is too strong; and sometimes, because he is too weak. Sometimes our neighbours want the things whic...
Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea / Technological Terror
Just then a bubbling began at the back of this strange thing (which was evidently propelled by a screw), and it began to move. We had only just time t...
A Journey to the Centre of the Earth / Navigating Perilous Terrain
It is necessary, however, to take great precaution, in order to avoid the weight of falling waters, which would cause the raft to founder in an instan...
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes / Awakening Justice
The sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, and then rubbed i...
Gulliver's Travels / Courtly Chaos
One day, at dinner, this malicious little cub was so nettled with something I had said to him, that, raising himself upon the frame of her majesty’s c...
A Journey to the Centre of the Earth / Philosophical Calm
But a learned man, a philosopher, is nothing if not a philosopher, when he keeps his ideas calm and collected; and certainly the Professor possessed t...
A Journey to the Centre of the Earth / Descent into Darkness
The descent then commenced in the following order: Hans went first, my uncle followed, and I went last. Our progress was made in profound silence--a s...
Around the World in Eighty Days / Natures Indifference
The buffaloes marched along with a tranquil gait, uttering now and then deafening bellowings. There was no use of interrupting them, for, having taken...
Gulliver's Travels / Nature of Vice
He was wholly at a loss to know what could be the use or necessity of practising those vices. To clear up which, I endeavoured to give some ideas of t...
Gulliver's Travels / Justice and Mercy
He said, the friendship between you and him was so well known to the world, that perhaps the most honourable board might think him partial; however, i...
A Journey to the Centre of the Earth / Maritime Endeavors
As usual, the crew was small, five Danes doing the whole of the work. "Well, I should think about ten days," replied the skipper, "unless, indeed, we ...
Frankenstein / Natures Fury
The most violent storm hung exactly north of the town, over the part of the lake which lies between the promontory of Belrive and the village of Copêt...
Gulliver's Travels / Authority and Illusion
He desired me to give him some account of my travels; and, to let me see that I should be treated without ceremony, he dismissed all his attendants wi...
Gulliver's Travels / Noble Education Inquiry
When I had put an end to these long discourses, his majesty, in a sixth audience, consulting his notes, proposed many doubts, queries, and objections,...
A Journey to the Centre of the Earth / Colonial Contrasts
From hence I went to the house of the Governor--a mere hut in comparison with the Mansion House of Hamburg--but a palace alongside the other Icelandic...
The War of the Worlds / Power Dynamics
And even if there’s a delay, how can it alter the end? There’s the ants builds their cities, live their lives, have wars, revolutions, until the men w...
Around the World in Eighty Days / Obstacles of Progress
“Yes, but it’s on the other side of the river.” “And can’t we cross that in a boat?” asked the colonel. It is a rapid, and we shall have to make a cir...
Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea / Colonial Encounters
However, on the 26th, appeased by some presents, and understanding that they had no reprisals to fear, they led M. There, in three or four fathoms of ...
Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea / Chase of the Cetacean
The _Abraham Lincoln_, propelled by her wonderful screw, went straight at the animal. The latter allowed it to come within half a cable’s length; then...
The War of the Worlds / Destruction and Indifference
Two days after I was imprisoned it had been destroyed, with every soul in it, by a Martian. He had swept it out of existence, as it seemed, without an...
Dracula / Breaking Boundaries
Suddenly the door was burst open, and in rushed my patient, with his face distorted with passion. I was thunderstruck, for such a thing as a patient g...
A Journey to the Centre of the Earth / Volcanic Exploration
Nevertheless, it appeared quite clear to me, that we were not in the principal chimney of the volcano, but in an accessory conduit, where we felt the ...
Dracula / Vigilance and Appearance
He will need very careful watching, and much attention. I shall stay with you myself; but I shall first dress myself.
Gulliver's Travels / Movement and Music
His majesty had given orders, that the island should move north-east and by east, to the vertical point over Lagado, the metropolis of the whole kingd...
Around the World in Eighty Days / Natures Fury
At a less advanced season of the year the typhoon, according to a famous meteorologist, would have passed away like a luminous cascade of electric fla...
Gulliver's Travels / Political Ambition
The worst mark you can receive is a promise, especially when it is confirmed with an oath; after which, every wise man retires, and gives over all hop...