| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Theaetetus by Plato: as good as another's, and every man is his own judge, and everything that
he judges is right and true, then what need of Protagoras to be our
instructor at a high figure; and why should we be less knowing than he is,
or have to go to him, if every man is the measure of all things? My own
art of midwifery, and all dialectic, is an enormous folly, if Protagoras'
"Truth" be indeed truth, and the philosopher is not merely amusing himself
by giving oracles out of his book.'
Theodorus thinks that Socrates is unjust to his master, Protagoras; but he
is too old and stiff to try a fall with him, and therefore refers him to
Theaetetus, who is already driven out of his former opinion by the
arguments of Socrates.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Betty Zane by Zane Grey: her forefeet. Betty looked round to see the cause of Madcap's excitement. What
was that! She saw a tall figure clad in brown leaning against the stone. She
saw a long fishing-rod. What was there so familiar in the poise of that
figure? Madcap dislodged a stone from the path and it went rattling down the
rock, slope and fell with a splash into the water. The man heard it, turned
and faced the hillside. Betty recognized Alfred Clarke. For a moment she
believed she must be dreaming She had had many dreams of the old sycamore. She
looked again. Yes, it was he. Pale, worn, and older he undoubtedly looked, but
the features were surely those of Alfred Clarke. Her heart gave a great bound
and then seemed to stop beating while a very agony of joy surged over her and
made her faint. So he still lived. That was her first thought, glad and
Betty Zane |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from A Sentimental Journey by Laurence Sterne: gentlemen transported by the cruelty of parents and guardians, and
travelling under the direction of governors recommended by Oxford,
Aberdeen, and Glasgow.
There is a fourth class, but their number is so small that they
would not deserve a distinction, were it not necessary in a work of
this nature to observe the greatest precision and nicety, to avoid
a confusion of character. And these men I speak of, are such as
cross the seas and sojourn in a land of strangers, with a view of
saving money for various reasons and upon various pretences: but as
they might also save themselves and others a great deal of
unnecessary trouble by saving their money at home, - and as their
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