| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Philebus by Plato: is a finite element of existence, and (2) an infinite, and (3) the union of
the two, and (4) the cause of the union. More may be added if they are
wanted, but at present we can do without them. And first of the infinite
or indefinite:--That is the class which is denoted by the terms more or
less, and is always in a state of comparison. All words or ideas to which
the words 'gently,' 'extremely,' and other comparative expressions are
applied, fall under this class. The infinite would be no longer infinite,
if limited or reduced to measure by number and quantity. The opposite
class is the limited or finite, and includes all things which have number
and quantity. And there is a third class of generation into essence by the
union of the finite and infinite, in which the finite gives law to the
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy: to a huge brown garden-slug, which had come indoors
to-night for reasons of its own. It was Nature's second
way of hinting to him that he was to prepare for foul
weather.
Oak sat down meditating for nearly an hour.
During this time two black spiders, of the kind common
in thatched houses, promenaded the ceiling, ultimately
dropping to the floor. This reminded him that if there
was one class of manifestation on this matter that he
thoroughly understood, it was the instincts of sheep.
He left the room, ran across two or three fields towards
Far From the Madding Crowd |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Heritage of the Desert by Zane Grey: camp-fire and waited. For several minutes no one spoke or even moved.
The Indians remained standing for a time; then seated themselves.
Presently August Naab greeted them in the Navajo language. This was a
signal for Hare to use his eyes and ears. Another interval of silence
followed before they began to talk. Hare could see only their blanketed
shoulders and black heads.
"Jack, come round here," said Naab at length. "I've been telling them
about you. These Indians do not like the whites, except my own family.
I hope you'll make friends with them."
"How do?" said the chief whom Naab had called Eschtah, a stately,
keen-eyed warrior, despite his age.
The Heritage of the Desert |
