| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from On Revenues by Xenophon: cannot conceive a better method to decide that question than to allow
the mind to revert[19] to the past history of the state and to note
well the sequence of events. He will discover that in times long gone
by during a period of peace vast wealth was stored up in the
acropolis, the whole of which was lavishly expended during a
subsequent period of war. He will perceive, if he examines closely,
that even at the present time we are suffering from its ill effects.
Countless sources of revenue have failed, or if they have still flowed
in, been lavishly expended on a multiplicity of things. Whereas,[20]
now that peace is established by sea, our revenues have expanded and
the citizens of Athens have it in their power to turn these to account
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Plutarch's Lives by A. H. Clough: Menyllus wished to give Phocion a considerable present of money,
who, thanking him, said, neither was Menyllus greater than
Alexander, nor his own occasions more urgent to receive it now,
than when he refused it from him.. And on his pressing him to
permit his son Phocus to receive it, he replied, "If my son
returns to a right mind, his patrimony is sufficient; if not, all
supplies will be insufficient." But to Antipater he answered more
sharply, who would have him engaged in something dishonorable.
"Antipater," said he, "cannot have me both as his friend and his
flatterer." And, indeed, Antipater was wont to say, he had two
friends at Athens, Phocion and Demades; the one would never suffer
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence: sounded through the house. Morel, in his room, slept on.
Paul and Annie sat crouched, huddled, motionless. The great snoring
sound began again--there was a painful pause while the breath was
held--back came the rasping breath. Minute after minute passed.
Paul looked at her again, bending low over her.
"She may last like this," he said.
They were both silent. He looked out of the window, and could
faintly discern the snow on the garden.
"You go to my bed," he said to Annie. "I'll sit up."
"No," she said, "I'll stop with you."
"I'd rather you didn't," he said.
Sons and Lovers |
