| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia by Samuel Johnson: gained the esteem of his guests, and the Princess repented her
hasty censure.
At last Imlac began thus: "I do not now wonder that your
reputation is so far extended: we have heard at Cairo of your
wisdom, and came hither to implore your direction for this young
man and maiden in the CHOICE OF LIFE."
"To him that lives well," answered the hermit, "every form of life
is good; nor can I give any other rule for choice than to remove
all apparent evil."
"He will most certainly remove from evil," said the Prince, "who
shall devote himself to that solitude which you have recommended by
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne: hath left us, for these and such like cases, and it is worth a thousand
arguments--By their fruits ye shall know them.
'I will add no farther to the length of this sermon, than by two or three
short and independent rules deducible from it.
'First, Whenever a man talks loudly against religion, always suspect that
it is not his reason, but his passions, which have got the better of his
Creed. A bad life and a good belief are disagreeable and troublesome
neighbours, and where they separate, depend upon it, 'tis for no other
cause but quietness sake.
'Secondly, When a man, thus represented, tells you in any particular
instance,--That such a thing goes against his conscience,--always believe
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Rise and Fall of Cesar Birotteau by Honore de Balzac: Clerk, call the next case."
Birotteau, clothed with the caftan of honor which the speech of the
illustrious /procureur-general/ had cast about him, stood dumb with
joy as he listened to the solemn words of the president, which
betrayed the quiverings of a heart beneath the impassibility of human
justice. He was unable to stir from his place before the bar, and
seemed for a moment nailed there, gazing at the judges with a
wondering air, as though they were angels opening to him the gates of
social life. His uncle took him by the arm and led him from the hall.
Cesar had not as yet obeyed the command of Louis XVIII., but he now
mechanically fastened the ribbon of the Legion of honor to his button-
Rise and Fall of Cesar Birotteau |
