The mere act of trying to hide something reveals it.

The mere act of driving to the coast was no answer.

For some on the left, the mere act of working with the Conservatives is a sin.

At the mere act of opening my books, they fall down as dead upon the floor.

And for now, the mere act of study seems to suffice.

I took comfort in the mere act of advice seeking.

The time should come when it could incorporate men into its organism by a mere act of will.

But the mere act of facing an audience would seem to be hazardous enough.

But now, you can't help wondering: does the mere act of asking for more money come with its own risks?

The mere act of trying to think heightened the agony.