| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy: It was possible for Maslova's case to come before the Senate in a
fortnight, at which time Nekhludoff meant to go to Petersburg,
and, if need be, to appeal to the Emperor (as the advocate who
had drawn up the petition advised) should the appeal be
disregarded (and, according to the advocate, it was best to be
prepared for that, since the causes for appeal were so slight).
The party of convicts, among whom was Maslova, would very likely
leave in the beginning of June. In order to be able to follow her
to Siberia, as Nekhludoff was firmly resolved to do, he was now
obliged to visit his estates, and settle matters there.
Nekhludoff first went to the nearest, Kousminski, a large estate
 Resurrection |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from House of Mirth by Edith Wharton: of a cigar from one of the silver boxes invitingly set out near
the door.
"Hallo, Selden, going too? You're an Epicurean like myself, I
see: you don't want to see all those goddesses gobbling terrapin.
Gad, what a show of good-looking women; but not one of
'em could touch that little cousin of mine. Talk of
jewels--what's a woman want with jewels when she's got herself to
show? The trouble is that all these fal-bals they wear cover up
their figures when they've got 'em. I never knew till tonight
what an outline Lily has."
"It's not her fault if everybody don't know it now," growled
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Eve and David by Honore de Balzac: so far as a crime, he has not the strength of character; but he
would take the fruits of a crime, he would share the benefit but
not the risk--a thing that seems abhorrent to the whole world,
even to scoundrels. Oh, he would despise himself, he would repent;
but bring him once more to the test, and he would fail again; for
he is weak of will, he cannot resist the allurements of pleasure,
nor forego the least of his ambitions. He is indolent, like all
who would fain be poets; he thinks it clever to juggle with the
difficulties of life instead of facing and overcoming them. He
will be brave at one time, cowardly at another, and deserves
neither credit for his courage, nor blame for his cowardice.
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