| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Hellenica by Xenophon: before been friends to my city, to appear as benefactors of the
Lacedaemonians. For a man to prove faithful to his friends in the
heyday of their good fortune is no great marvel; but to prove
steadfast when his friends are in misfortune--that is a service
monumental for all time. But do not mistake me. It does not follow
that, because we have been defeated in a great sea-fight, we are
therefore annihilated.[7] Certainly not. Even in old days, you will
admit, when Athens was mistress of the sea, our state was not
powerless to benefit friends or chastise enemies. Moreover, in
proportion as the rest of the cities have joined hands with fortune to
turn their backs upon us, so much the more certainly will the grandeur
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Another Study of Woman by Honore de Balzac: incapable of suspecting that it had overmastered me, I had abandoned
myself to that rapturous idolatry which is at once the triumph and the
frail joy of the young. I treasured /her/ old gloves; I drank an
infusion of the flowers /she/ had worn; I got out of bed at night to
go and gaze at /her/ window. All my blood rushed to my heart when I
inhaled the perfume she used. I was miles away from knowing that woman
is a stove with a marble casing."
"Oh! spare us your terrible verdicts," cried Madame de Montcornet with
a smile.
"I believe I should have crushed with my scorn the philosopher who
first uttered this terrible but profoundly true thought," said de
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from A Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: is to the left of the draw-brigg. And this I can easily prove to
you, mine honest friend; for, holding that pasty to be the
castle--What's your name, friend?"
"Lorimer, sir," replied the man.
"Here is to your health, honest Lorimer.--I say, Lorimer
--holding that pasty to be the main body or citadel of the place
to be defended, and taking the marrow-bone for the sconce to be
erected--"
"I am sorry, sir," said Lorimer, interrupting him, "that I cannot
stay to hear the rest of your demonstration; but the bell will
presently ring. As worthy Mr. Graneangowl, the Marquis's own
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