It is a clear gain to sacrifice pleasure in order to avoid pain. Schopenhauer.
It is a common error to think that in politics legislation is everything and administration nothing. Macaulay.
It is a common failing of old men to attribute all wisdom to themselves. Fielding.
It is a common law of Nature, which no time will ever change, that superiors shall rule their inferiors. Dionysius.
It is a custom / More honoured in the breach 20 than the observance. Ham., i. 4.
It is a damnable audacity to bring forth that torturing Cross, and the Holy One who suffers on it, and to expose them to the light of the sun, which hid its face when a reckless world forced such a sight on it; to take these mysterious secrets, in which the divine depth of sorrow lies hid, and play with them, fondle them, trick them out, and rest not till the most reverend of all solemnities appears vulgar and paltry. Goethe.
It is a delusion (Wahn) to suppose that adversity (Unglück) makes man better. As well believe that the rust makes the knife sharp, dirt promotes purity, and mud clarifies the stream. Bodenstedt.
"It is a devout imagination." The Regent Murray's answer to John Knox's proposal to conserve the property of the Church for the spiritual benefit of the lieges.
It is a fair and holy office to be a prophet of Nature. Novalis.
It is a fine thing to command, though it were 25 but a herd of cattle. Cervantes.