There is an indescribable charm about the illusions with which chimerical ignorance once clothed every subject.
"Bracebridge Hall, or The Humorists"
Washington Irving
In all his visionary schemes, these breathed a spirit of lofty, though chimerical philanthropy, that won the admiration of the scholar.
"Bracebridge Hall, or The Humorists"
Washington Irving
Neither Mr. Romanes nor the writer in the Times appears to perceive that the results which may or may not be supposed to ensue on choice depend upon what it is that is supposed to be chosen from; they do not appear to see that though the expression natural selection must be always more or less objectionable, as too highly charged with metaphor for purposes of science, there is nevertheless a natural selection which is open to no other objection than this, and which, when its metaphorical character is borne well in mind, may be used without serious risk of error, whereas natural selection from variations that are mainly fortuitous is chimerical as well as metaphorical.
"Luck or Cunning?"
Samuel Butler