| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Apology by Xenophon: once he had decided that death was better for him than life, just as
in the old days he had never harshly opposed himself to the good
things of life morosely,[60] so even in face of death he showed no
touch of weakness, but with gaiety welcomed death's embrace, and
discharged life's debt.
[58] Lit. "dear to the gods"; "highly favoured."
[59] Cf. Hom. "Od." xii. 341, {pantes men stugeroi thanatoi deiloisi
brotoisin}.
[60] {prosantes}, i.e. "he faced death boldly as he had encountered
life's blessings blandly." "As he had been no stoic to repudiate
life's blessings, so he was no coward to," etc.
The Apology |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Damaged Goods by Upton Sinclair: something which the law commands; and even if the law were
silent, I would not permit a family of worthy people to go astray
so far as to commit a crime. Either I give up the case, or you
have the nursing of the child stopped."
"You threaten! You threaten!" cried the woman, almost frantic.
"You abuse the power which your knowledge gives you! You know
that it is you whose attention we need by that little cradle; you
know that we believe in you, and you threaten to abandon us!
Your abandonment means the death of the child, perhaps! And if I
listen to you, if we stop the nursing of the child--that also
means her death!"
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from O Pioneers! by Willa Cather: long as there is one house there must be one
head. Alexandra is the oldest, and she knows
my wishes. She will do the best she can. If she
makes mistakes, she will not make so many as
I have made. When you marry, and want a
house of your own, the land will be divided
fairly, according to the courts. But for the next
few years you will have it hard, and you must
all keep together. Alexandra will manage the
best she can."
O Pioneers! |
