They differed once about whether the earth rotates on its own axis in space or stands on the head of an ox

On subjects outside religion, their disputes were not infrequent. For example, they differed once about whether the earth rotates on its own axis in space or stands on the head of an ox. When she found the boy insistent, she backed down and pretended to give in. All the same, she slipped off to Fahmy's room to ask him about the truth of the ox supporting the earth, and whether it still did. The young man thought he should be gentle with her and answer in language she would like. He told her that the earth is held up by the power and wisdom of God. His mother left content with this answer, which pleased her, and the large ox was not erased from her imagination.

N. Mahfouz, Palace Walk (1956), tr. W.M. Hutchins and O.E. Kenny (1990), 64

I feel as uneasy as I do if there is no evidence of wine glasses or bottles

In fact, if I go into a friend's dining room and see no loaf on the table, I feel as uneasy as I do if there is no evidence of wine glasses or bottles. Now that I've been forced into making my own bread, I often take it with me. Nobody takes any offence ... It's only a matter of time before the braver and angrier among us start taking our own bread to restaurants. After all there are plenty of establishments to which we may take our own wine. I see nothing to prevent us taking our own bread as well. The restaurateurs can always increase their cover charges t include the loan of a bread knife - if they have one.

E. David, 'The Baking of an English Loaf', collected in J. Norman (ed.) Is there a nutmeg in the house? (2000), 220

NB. When Elizabeth David talks of being 'forced' to bake her own bread, she means because commercial bread is substandard, not actually being forced.

Gained considerable reputation as a poet

Elsewhere in the same lists of what has become its most famously poignant number, Wisden reported the death of Sub-Lieutenant Rupert Brooke, who left a corner of an Aegean field forever England by succumbing to sunstroke on Lemnos in April 1915. The almanack scrupulously documented his 1906 Rugby school season of nineteen wickets at 14 before noting his having 'gained considerable reputation as a poet'.

G. Haigh, Stroke of genius (2016), 213

Rather like a history of the Balkans

A chronology of Australian cricket administration between the turn of the century and World War I reads back rather like a history of the Balkans: endless noisy wranglings, temporary alliances, and fights within fights.

G. Haigh, Stroke of genius (2016), 192

Force cannot be eliminated

Governments may think and say what they like, but force cannot be eliminated, and it is the only real and unanswerable power. We are told the pen is mightier than the sword, but I know which of these two weapons I would choose

A.C. de Wiart, Happy Odyssey (1950), 271

I asked the doctor to take my fingers off; he refused

My hand was a ghastly sight; two of the fingers were hanging by a piece of skin, all the palm was shot away and most of the wrist. For the first time, and certainly the last, I had been wearing a wrist-watch, and it had been blown into the remains of the wrist. I asked the doctor to take my fingers off; he refused, so I pulled them off myself and felt absolutely no pain in doing it.

A.C. de Wiart, Happy Odyssey (1950), 64