The Earl gave way; the Barons gave way.

Mighty men may thrash numbers for a time; in the end the numbers will be thrashed into the art of beating their teachers.

It is bad policy to fight the odds inch by inch.

Those primitive school masters of the million liked it, and took their pleasure in that way.

The Romfreys did not breed warriors for a parade at Court; wars, though frequent, were not constant, and they wanted occupation: they may even have felt that they were bound in no common degree to the pursuit of an answer to what may be called the parent question of humanity: Am I thy master, or thou mine?
They put it to lords of other castles, to town corporations, and sometimes brother to brother: and notwithstanding that the answer often unseated and once discastled them, they swam back to their places, as born warriors, urged by a passion for land, are almost sure to do; are indeed quite sure, so long as they multiply sturdily, and will never take no from Fortune.