| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from An Historical Mystery by Honore de Balzac: judgment on men and things was, at a distance, clear-cut and precise.
This faculty is the wisdom and makes the strength of second-rate men.
Now, in November, 1803, a combination of events (already related in
the "Depute d'Arcis") made matters so serious for the Councillor of
State that a letter might have compromised the two friends. Malin, who
hoped to be appointed senator, was afraid to offer his explanations in
Paris. He came to Gondreville, giving the First Consul only one of the
reasons that made him wish to be there; that reason gave him an
appearance of zeal in the eyes of Bonaparte; whereas his journey, far
from concerning the interests of the State, related to his own
interests only. On this particular day, as Michu was watching the park
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: serviceable to her nieces. She shared in their attendance on Mrs.
Bennet, and was a great comfort to them in their hours of
freedom. Their other aunt also visited them frequently, and
always, as she said, with the design of cheering and heartening
them up-- though, as she never came without reporting some
fresh instance of Wickham's extravagance or irregularity, she
seldom went away without leaving them more dispirited than
she found them.
All Meryton seemed striving to blacken the man who, but three
months before, had been almost an angel of light. He was
declared to be in debt to every tradesman in the place, and his
Pride and Prejudice |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Lady Baltimore by Owen Wister: It was all harmonious, and decorous, and properly conducted, this state
visit; yet even so, Juno and John exchanged at parting some verbal
sweet-meats which rather stuck out from the smooth meringue of diplomacy.
She contemplated his bruise. "You are feeling stronger, I hope, than you
have been lately? A bridegroom's health should be good."
He thanked her. "I am feeling better to-night than for many weeks."
The rascal had the thirty dollars visibly bulging that moment in his
pocket. I doubt if he had acquainted his aunt with this episode, but she
was certain to hear it soon; and when she did hear it, I rather fancy
that she wished to smile--as I completely smiled alone in my bed that
night thinking young John over.
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