| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Statesman by Plato: excessive love of the military life? they raise up enemies against
themselves many and mighty, and either utterly ruin their native-land or
enslave and subject it to its foes?
YOUNG SOCRATES: That, again, is true.
STRANGER: Must we not admit, then, that where these two classes exist,
they always feel the greatest antipathy and antagonism towards one
another?
YOUNG SOCRATES: We cannot deny it.
STRANGER: And returning to the enquiry with which we began, have we not
found that considerable portions of virtue are at variance with one
another, and give rise to a similar opposition in the characters who are
Statesman |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from An Historical Mystery by Honore de Balzac: "What have you come for, Monsieur Pigoult?" asked Michu.
"In the name of the Emperor and the laws, I arrest you," replied the
justice.
The three gendarmes entered the kitchen leading Gothard. Seeing the
silver lace on their hats Marthe and her mother looked at each other
in terror.
"Pooh! why?" asked Michu, who sat down at the table and called to his
wife, "Give me something to eat; I'm famished."
"You know why as well as we do," said the justice, making a sign to
his clerk to begin the /proces-verbal/ and exhibiting the warrant of
arrest.
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Lysis by Plato: you were attending.
Certainly, he replied.
Try, then, to remember the words, and be as exact as you can in repeating
them to him, and if you have forgotten anything, ask me again the next time
that you see me.
I will be sure to do so, Socrates; but go on telling him something new, and
let me hear, as long as I am allowed to stay.
I certainly cannot refuse, I said, since you ask me; but then, as you know,
Menexenus is very pugnacious, and therefore you must come to the rescue if
he attempts to upset me.
Yes, indeed, he said; he is very pugnacious, and that is the reason why I
Lysis |
