| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Laches by Plato: there might have been reason in so doing; but why should a man deck himself
out with vain words at a meeting of friends such as this?
SOCRATES: I quite agree with you, Laches, that he should not. But perhaps
Nicias is serious, and not merely talking for the sake of talking. Let us
ask him just to explain what he means, and if he has reason on his side we
will agree with him; if not, we will instruct him.
LACHES: Do you, Socrates, if you like, ask him: I think that I have asked
enough.
SOCRATES: I do not see why I should not; and my question will do for both
of us.
LACHES: Very good.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from In a German Pension by Katherine Mansfield: "H'm, not much wrong with him," he reflected. "Wouldn't mind a taste of
that life myself. Up early, work all over by eleven o'clock, nothing to do
but loaf about all day until milking time." Which he knew was an
exaggeration, but he wanted to pity himself.
The maid opened the door, and stood aside for Doctor Erb. Andreas wheeled
round; the two men shook hands.
"Well, Binzer," said the doctor jovially, brushing some crumbs from a
pearl-coloured waistcoat, "son and heir becoming importunate?"
Up went Binzer's spirits with a bound. Son and heir, by Jove! He was glad
to have to deal with a man again. And a sane fellow this, who came across
this sort of thing every day of the week.
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Lady Baltimore by Owen Wister: myself scarce at liberty to speak on matters so near to him and so far
from me as his daughter's marriage, called his attention to the beautiful
aspect of Kings Port, spread out before us in a long white line against
the blue water.
The General immediately seized his opportunity. "'Sweet Auburn, loveliest
village of the plain!' You are acquainted with the works of Goldsmith,
sir?"
I professed some knowledge of this author also, and the General's talk
flowed ornately onward. Though I had little to say to him about his
daughter's marriage, he had much to say to me. Miss Josephine St. Michael
would have been gratified to hear that her family was considered suitable
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