| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Atheist's Mass by Honore de Balzac: time and his night hours. Horace, in short, was one of those
friends who are never anxious as to what they may get in return
for what they give, feeling sure that they will in their turn get
more than they give. Most of his friends felt for him that
deeply-seated respect which is inspired by unostentatious virtue,
and many of them dreaded his censure. But Horace made no pedantic
display of his qualities. He was neither a puritan nor a
preacher; he could swear with a grace as he gave his advice, and
was always ready for a jollification when occasion offered. A
jolly companion, not more prudish than a trooper, as frank and
outspoken--not as a sailor, for nowadays sailors are wily
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: a wink all right for thinking of it. Oh! Catherine,
the many sleepless nights I have had on your brother's
account! I would not have you suffer half what I have done!
I am grown wretchedly thin, I know; but I will not pain
you by describing my anxiety; you have seen enough of it.
I feel that I have betrayed myself perpetually--so unguarded
in speaking of my partiality for the church! But my secret
I was always sure would be safe with you."
Catherine felt that nothing could have been safer;
but ashamed of an ignorance little expected, she dared
no longer contest the point, nor refuse to have been
Northanger Abbey |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Alcibiades I by Plato: like to name to my beauty?
ALCIBIADES: Yes, I do.
SOCRATES: How?
ALCIBIADES: By your help, Socrates.
SOCRATES: That is not well said, Alcibiades.
ALCIBIADES: What ought I to have said?
SOCRATES: By the help of God.
ALCIBIADES: I agree; and I further say, that our relations are likely to
be reversed. From this day forward, I must and will follow you as you have
followed me; I will be the disciple, and you shall be my master.
SOCRATES: O that is rare! My love breeds another love: and so like the
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