| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Agesilaus by Xenophon: manliness which he furnished by his readiness ever to wage war against
the strongest enemies, whether of Sparta or of Hellas, placing himself
in the forefront of the contests decided on. If the enemy cared to
join issue in fair field he would not chance upon a victory won by
panic, but in stubborn battle, blow for blow, he mastered him; and set
up trophies worthy of the name, seeing that he left behind him
imperishable monuments of prowess, and bore away on his own body
indelible marks of the fury with which he fought;[1] so that, apart
from hearsay, by the evidence of men's eyes his valour stood approved.
[1] Or, "visible signs of the spirit," etc. See Plut. "Ages." xxxvi.
And amongst these we must not deem them trophies alone which he
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Marriage Contract by Honore de Balzac: weak young man; he might allow a friend to rule him; he might even
fall under the dominion of some woman who would make you feel her
influence. Prevent such disasters by making yourself from the very
start his ruler. Is it not better that he be governed by you than by
others?"
"Yes, certainly," said Natalie. "I should think only of his
happiness."
"And it is my privilege, darling, to think only of yours, and to wish
not to leave you at so crucial a moment without a compass in the midst
of the reefs through which you must steer."
"But, dearest mother, are we not strong enough, you and I, to stay
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Records of a Family of Engineers by Robert Louis Stevenson: top of the building, three cheers were given in testimony of
this important circumstance. A glass of rum was then served
out to all hands on the rock and on board of the respective
ships.
[Sunday, 16th July]
Besides laying, boring, trenailing, wedging, and grouting
thirty-two stones, several other operations were proceeded
with on the rock at low-water, when some of the artificers
were employed at the railways, and at high-water at the
beacon-house. The seamen having prepared a quantity of
tarpaulin, or cloth laid over with successive coats of hot
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