| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Gobseck by Honore de Balzac: personal knowledge of the events of the American War of Independence.
But if he spoke of the Indies or of America, as he did very rarely
with me, and never with anyone else, he seemed to regard it as an
indiscretion and to repent of it afterwards. If humanity and
sociability are in some sort a religion, Gobseck might be ranked as an
infidel; but though I set myself to study him, I must confess, to my
shame, that his real nature was impenetrable up to the very last. I
even felt doubts at times as to his sex. If all usurers are like this
one, I maintain that they belong to the neuter gender.
"Did he adhere to his mother's religion? Did he look on Gentiles as
his legitimate prey? Had he turned Roman Catholic, Lutheran,
Gobseck |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from King James Bible: devices will he condemn.
PRO 12:3 A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of
the righteous shall not be moved.
PRO 12:4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that
maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
PRO 12:5 The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of
the wicked are deceit.
PRO 12:6 The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the
mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
PRO 12:7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the
righteous shall stand.
King James Bible |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Protagoras by Plato: Granted.
If they succeed, I said, or if they do not succeed?
If they succeed.
And you would admit the existence of goods?
Yes.
And is the good that which is expedient for man?
Yes, indeed, he said: and there are some things which may be inexpedient,
and yet I call them good.
I thought that Protagoras was getting ruffled and excited; he seemed to be
setting himself in an attitude of war. Seeing this, I minded my business,
and gently said:--
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