But he was capricious and shortsighted; anything outside of the well-worn ruts of routine vexed and alarmed him; and it is a supreme proof of the greatness and courage of his reforming Minister, Stadion, that his innovations should have been tolerated for so long.
"The Life of Napoleon I (Volumes, 1 and 2)"
John Holland Rose
And Fate has, perhaps, been more merciful to both, than in our shortsighted and querulous human vision, we might, perhaps, believe; for now that the frame is brought low-and in the solitude of my chamber I can duly and humbly commune with mine own heart, I see the aspect of those faults which I once mistook for virtues-and feel that, had we been united, I, loving you ever, might not have constituted your happiness, and so have known the misery of losing your affection.
"Ernest Maltravers, Complete"
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
The truth was, Edward, calling to mind Mr. Holbrook's lecture that last evening in the home prayer-meeting, and his resolution taken then, thought that the stone was ahead of him no longer, but that he had walked close up to it, and could not take another step because of it, and very large and impossible to move did it look to his shortsighted eyes.
"Tip Lewis and His Lamp"
Pansy