| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from From London to Land's End by Daniel Defoe: handed down to us the original. As we find it, then, uncertain, we
must leave it so. It is indeed a reverend piece of antiquity, and
it is a great loss that the true history of it is not known. But
since it is not, I think the making so many conjectures at the
reality, when they know lots can but guess at it, and, above all,
the insisting so long and warmly on their private opinions, is but
amusing themselves and us with a doubt, which perhaps lies the
deeper for their search into it.
The downs and plains in this part of England being so open, and the
surface so little subject to alteration, there are more remains of
antiquity to be seen upon them than in other places. For example,
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Art of War by Sun Tzu: [Wang Hsi`s note is: "This means, the general is angry
without cause, and at the same time does not appreciate the
ability of his subordinate officers; thus he arouses fierce
resentment and brings an avalanche of ruin upon his head."]
18. When the general is weak and without authority; when
his orders are not clear and distinct;
[Wei Liao Tzu (ch. 4) says: "If the commander gives his
orders with decision, the soldiers will not wait to hear them
twice; if his moves are made without vacillation, the soldiers
will not be in two minds about doing their duty." General Baden-
Powell says, italicizing the words: "The secret of getting
The Art of War |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Aesop's Fables by Aesop: money that I get from the sale of these eggs I'll buy myself a new
dimity frock and a chip hat; and when I go to market, won't all
the young men come up and speak to me! Polly Shaw will be that
jealous; but I don't care. I shall just look at her and toss my
head like this. As she spoke she tossed her head back, the Pail
fell off it, and all the milk was spilt. So she had to go home
and tell her mother what had occurred.
"Ah, my child," said the mother,
"Do not count your chickens before they are hatched."
The Cat-Maiden
The gods were once disputing whether it was possible for a
Aesop's Fables |
