| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Essays of Francis Bacon by Francis Bacon: one or two of the eldest respected, and the young-
est made wantons; but in the midst, some that
are as it were forgotten, who many times, never-
theless, prove the best. The illiberality of parents,
in allowance towards their children, is an harmful
error; makes them base; acquaints them with
shifts; makes them sort with mean company; and
makes them surfeit more when they come to
plenty. And therefore the proof is best, when men
keep their authority towards the children, but not
their purse. Men have a foolish manner (both par-
Essays of Francis Bacon |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Reminiscences of Tolstoy by Leo Tolstoy: which I am fond of, but wish to give up; it takes up too much
time."
In 1878, when the novel was nearing its end, he wrote again
to Strákhof:
"I am frightened by the feeling that I am getting into my
summer mood again. I loathe what I have written. The
proof-sheets for the April number [of "Anna Karénina" in
the "Russky Vyéstnik"] now lie on my table, and I am
afraid that I have not the heart to correct them.
Everything in them is beastly, and the whole thing
ought to be rewritten,--all that has been printed, too,--scrapped
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: to hear our laughter and grow sad. I want a breath of our passion
to stir their dust into consciousness, to wake their ashes into pain.
My God, Harry, how I worship her!" He was walking up and down the room
as he spoke. Hectic spots of red burned on his cheeks. He was
terribly excited.
Lord Henry watched him with a subtle sense of pleasure. How different
he was now from the shy frightened boy he had met in Basil Hallward's studio!
His nature had developed like a flower, had borne blossoms of scarlet flame.
Out of its secret hiding-place had crept his soul, and desire had come to meet
it on the way.
"And what do you propose to do?" said Lord Henry at last.
The Picture of Dorian Gray |
