Careful Words

persons (n.)

  We hardly find any persons of good sense save those who agree with us.

Isaac De Benserade (1612-1691): Maxim 347.

  Is there no respect of place, parsons, nor time in you?

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Twelfth Night. Act ii. Sc. 3.

  There is no respect of persons with God.

New Testament: Romans ii. 11.

  Hannibal, as he had mighty virtues, so had he many vices; he had two distinct persons in him.

Robert Burton (1576-1640): Anatomy of Melancholy. Democritus to the Reader.