| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin: between domestic races and species, this source of doubt could not so
perpetually recur. It has often been stated that domestic races do not
differ from each other in characters of generic value. I think it could be
shown that this statement is hardly correct; but naturalists differ most
widely in determining what characters are of generic value; all such
valuations being at present empirical. Moreover, on the view of the origin
of genera which I shall presently give, we have no right to expect often to
meet with generic differences in our domesticated productions.
When we attempt to estimate the amount of structural difference between the
domestic races of the same species, we are soon involved in doubt, from not
knowing whether they have descended from one or several parent-species.
On the Origin of Species |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Astoria by Washington Irving: eat, drink, and play all away as long as the goods hold out; and
when these are gone, they even sell their embroidery, their lace,
and their clothes. This done, they are forced upon a new voyage
for subsistence."
Many of these coureurs des bois became so accustomed to the
Indian mode of living, and the perfect freedom of the wilderness,
that they lost relish for civilization, and identified themselves
with the savages among whom they dwelt, or could only be
distinguished from them by superior licentiousness. Their conduct
and example gradually corrupted the natives, and impeded the
works of the Catholic missionaries, who were at this time
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from End of the Tether by Joseph Conrad: fused to leave the ship. It would have been foolish.
He was blameless, as the court found."
Mr. Van Wyk had known him well, he said, and he
could not believe in suicide. Such an act would not
have been in character with what he knew of the man.
"It is my opinion, too," the lawyer agreed. The gen-
eral theory was that the captain had remained too long
on board trying to save something of importance. Per-
haps the chart which would clear him, or else something
of value in his cabin. The painter of the boat had
come adrift of itself it was supposed. However, strange
End of the Tether |
