| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte: commenced her plan of reform by trying to raise her self-respect
with fine clothes and flattery, which she took readily; so that,
instead of a wild, hatless little savage jumping into the house,
and rushing to squeeze us all breathless, there 'lighted from a
handsome black pony a very dignified person, with brown ringlets
falling from the cover of a feathered beaver, and a long cloth
habit, which she was obliged to hold up with both hands that she
might sail in. Hindley lifted her from her horse, exclaiming
delightedly, 'Why, Cathy, you are quite a beauty! I should
scarcely have known you: you look like a lady now. Isabella
Linton is not to be compared with her, is she, Frances?' 'Isabella
Wuthering Heights |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: will of the flesh as subject to the spirit as slave is to his
master. He was altogether forgetful of comforts or repose, and
tyrannized over sleep as over a wicked servant. And, in brief,
such was his practice of the religious life, that Barlaam, who
had spent many years therein, marvelled at him, and failed to
equal the earnestness of his life. For he took only so much of
that coarse and cheerless food as would keep him alive; else had
he died afore his time, and forfeited the reward of his well-
doing. He subdued himself to watchings, as though he were
without flesh and body. In prayer and mental exercise his work
was unceasing, and all the time of his life was spent in
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Gentle Grafter by O. Henry: "The only times," said he, "that me and Andy Tucker ever had any
hiatuses in our cordial intents was when we differed on the moral
aspects of grafting. Andy had his standards and I had mine. I didn't
approve of all of Andy's schemes for levying contributions from the
public, and he thought I allowed my conscience to interfere too often
for the financial good of the firm. We had high arguments sometimes.
One word led on to another till he said I reminded him of Rockefeller.
"'I don't know how you mean that, Andy,' says I, 'but we have been
friends too long for me to take offense, at a taunt that you will
regret when you cool off. I have yet,' says I, 'to shake hands with a
subpoena server.'
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