| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Reason Discourse by Rene Descartes: knowledge is undoubtedly much to be preferred, and, if they choose to
follow a course similar to mine, they do not require for this that I
should say anything more than I have already said in this discourse. For
if they are capable of making greater advancement than I have made, they
will much more be able of themselves to discover all that I believe myself
to have found; since as I have never examined aught except in order, it is
certain that what yet remains to be discovered is in itself more difficult
and recondite, than that which I have already been enabled to find, and
the gratification would be much less in learning it from me than in
discovering it for themselves. Besides this, the habit which they will
acquire, by seeking first what is easy, and then passing onward slowly and
Reason Discourse |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Octopus by Frank Norris: which it had been said would never come to pass, the last trial
of strength, the last fight between the Trust and the People, the
direct, brutal grapple of armed men, the law defied, the
Government ignored, behold, here it was close at hand.
Osterman cocked his revolver, and in the profound silence that
had fallen upon the scene, the click was plainly audible from end
to end of the line.
"Remember our agreement, gentlemen," cried Magnus, in a warning
voice. "Mr. Osterman, I must ask you to let down the hammer of
your weapon."
No one answered. In absolute quiet, standing motionless in their
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens: value,--being the results of the study and experience of his whole
life. That while they were howling and exulting round the fire, a
troop of soldiers, with a magistrate among them, came up, and being
too late (for the mischief was by that time done), began to
disperse the crowd. That the Riot Act being read, and the crowd
still resisting, the soldiers received orders to fire, and
levelling their muskets shot dead at the first discharge six men
and a woman, and wounded many persons; and loading again directly,
fired another volley, but over the people's heads it was supposed,
as none were seen to fall. That thereupon, and daunted by the
shrieks and tumult, the crowd began to disperse, and the soldiers
Barnaby Rudge |
