But as perhaps fifty of these whale-bone whales are harpooned for one cachalot, some philosophers of the forecastle have concluded that this positive havoc has already very seriously
diminished their battalions.
In proportion as we recede from the earth the action of gravitation
diminishes in the inverse ratio of the square of the distance; that is to say, at three times a given distance the action is nine times less.
You will then, pardon me, Alice, should I diminish your enjoyments, by requesting this gentleman to postpone his chant until a safer opportunity."
"You will diminish them, indeed," returned the arch girl; "for never did I hear a more unworthy conjunction of execution and language than that to which I have been listening; and I was far gone in a learned inquiry into the causes of such an unfitness between sound and sense, when you broke the charm of my musings by that bass of yours, Duncan!"
It will be observed that a difference has been made by the convention between the compensation of the President and of the judges, That of the former can neither be increased nor
diminished; that of the latter can only not be
diminished.
Slowly she drifted to the southeast, rising higher and higher as the flames ate away her wooden parts and
diminished the weight upon her.
At first, Toby with a degree of fastidiousness that seemed to me ill-timed, was for picking out the minute particles of tobacco with which the spongy mass was mixed; but against this proceeding I protested, as by such an operation we must have greatly
diminished its quantity.
When ye fight with a Wolf of the Pack, ye must fight him alone and afar, Lest others take part in the quarrel, and the Pack be
diminished by war.
It occasionally occurred that a peddler with
diminished pack and swollen purse would be traced to the lonely dwelling of some rough character and never could be traced beyond.
That is to say, as the difference
diminishes, the part of the difference which is not according to the laws of perspective
diminishes much more rapidly, and bears to the total difference a ratio which tends towards zero as both are made smaller and smaller.
It is a misfortune, inseparable from human affairs, that public measures are rarely investigated with that spirit of moderation which is essential to a just estimate of their real tendency to advance or obstruct the public good; and that this spirit is more apt to be
diminished than promoted, by those occasions which require an unusual exercise of it.
Their spirits once roused were, however, not
diminished, but only changed character.