And though the news of their beatings might help all others to hesitation, ere they did foolishly, in like fashion, yet was the principle of the flogging not on this base, which would be both improper and unjust; but only that the one in question be corrected to the best advantage for his own well-being; for it is not meet that any principle of correction should shape to the making of human signposts of pain for the benefit of others; for in verity, this were to make one pay the cost of many's learning; and each should owe to pay only so much as shall suffice for the teaching of his own body and spirit.
"The Night Land"
William Hope Hodgson
So far the incident was utterly trivial in his eyes; but he knew that the trifles which appeared significant to Max had a way of standing out like signposts when the time came to look back over an episode.
"Max Carrados"
Ernest Bramah
To think that he must have witnessed her discomfiture, and worse than all her two absurd feet sticking up in the air like-like signposts.
"The Law-Breakers"
Ridgwell Cullum