| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Art of War by Sun Tzu: one of the five classes of State ceremonial, [66] and must
not be treated as an independent branch of study. Hence, the
words "I am unversed in" must be taken to mean that there are
things which even an inspired Teacher does not know. Those
who have to lead an army and devise stratagems, must learn
the art of war. But if one can command the services of a
good general like Sun Tzu, who was employed by Wu Tzu-hsu,
there is no need to learn it oneself. Hence the remark added
by Confucius: "If I fight, I conquer."
The men of the present day, however, willfully interpret
these words of Confucius in their narrowest sense, as though
The Art of War |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Dracula by Bram Stoker: will you not let me be like a sister to you in your trouble?
I know what sorrows you have had, though I cannot measure the depth
of them. If sympathy and pity can help in your affliction,
won't you let me be of some little service, for Lucy's sake?"
In an instant the poor dear fellow was overwhelmed with grief.
It seemed to me that all that he had of late been suffering in silence
found a vent at once. He grew quite hysterical, and raising his
open hands, beat his palms together in a perfect agony of grief.
He stood up and then sat down again, and the tears rained down his cheeks.
I felt an infinite pity for him, and opened my arms unthinkingly.
With a sob he laid his head on my shoulder and cried like a wearied child,
Dracula |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Ursula by Honore de Balzac: no further unhappiness of that kind, and to do all I can to repair
these first faults."
"Come and breakfast, my child," she said, turning to leave the room.
CHAPTER XII
OBSTACLES TO YOUNG LOVE
In 1829 the old noblesse had recovered as to manners and customs
something of the prestige it had irrevocably lost in politics.
Moreover, the sentiment which governs parents and grandparents in all
that relates to matrimonial conventions is an imperishable sentiment,
closely allied to the very existence of civilized societies and
springing from the spirit of family. It rules in Geneva as in Vienna
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