| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Reason Discourse by Rene Descartes: truth from error, which is properly what is called good sense or reason,
is by nature equal in all men; and that the diversity of our opinions,
consequently, does not arise from some being endowed with a larger share
of reason than others, but solely from this, that we conduct our thoughts
along different ways, and do not fix our attention on the same objects.
For to be possessed of a vigorous mind is not enough; the prime requisite
is rightly to apply it. The greatest minds, as they are capable of the
highest excellences, are open likewise to the greatest aberrations; and
those who travel very slowly may yet make far greater progress, provided
they keep always to the straight road, than those who, while they run,
forsake it.
Reason Discourse |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe: "Ye see," said Marks to Haley, stirring his punch as he
did so, "ye see, we has justices convenient at all p'ints along
shore, that does up any little jobs in our line quite reasonable.
Tom, he does the knockin' down and that ar; and I come in all
dressed up--shining boots--everything first chop, when the swearin'
's to be done. You oughter see, now," said Marks, in a glow of
professional pride, "how I can tone it off. One day, I'm Mr.
Twickem, from New Orleans; 'nother day, I'm just come from my
plantation on Pearl river, where I works seven hundred niggers;
then, again, I come out a distant relation of Henry Clay, or some
old cock in Kentuck. Talents is different, you know. Now, Tom's
Uncle Tom's Cabin |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Ebb-Tide by Stevenson & Osbourne: 'Why should that be a good job?' said Herrick.
'Oh, you'll see how it pans out presently,' returned Davis.
'You go ashore and stand in with him, that's all! You'll get lots
of pointers; you can find out what he has, and what the charter
is, and who's the fourth man--for there's four of them, and
we're only three.'
'And suppose I do, what next?' cried Herrick. 'Answer me that!'
'So I will, Robert Herrick,' said the captain. 'But first, let's
see all clear. I guess you know,' he said with an imperious
solemnity, 'I guess you know the bottom is out of this Farallone
speculation? I guess you know it's RIGHT out? and if this old
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