| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Deputy of Arcis by Honore de Balzac: life, Sallenauve had busied himself by acquiring the practical
knowledge which enables an orator of the Chamber to take part in all
discussions and have reasons to give for his general views. He had
turned his attention more especially to matters connected with the
great question of the revenue and taxation; such, for instance, as the
custom-house, laws of exchange, stamp duties, and taxation, direct and
indirect. Approaching in this manner that problematical science--which
is, nevertheless, so sure of itself!--called political economy,
Sallenauve had also studied the sources which contribute to form the
great current of national prosperity; and in this connection the
subject of mines, the topic at this moment most interesting to
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Charmides by Plato: God forbid.
Or of working in brass?
Certainly not.
Or in wool, or wood, or anything of that sort?
No, I do not.
Then, I said, we are giving up the doctrine that he who lives according to
knowledge is happy, for these live according to knowledge, and yet they are
not allowed by you to be happy; but I think that you mean to confine
happiness to particular individuals who live according to knowledge, such
for example as the prophet, who, as I was saying, knows the future. Is it
of him you are speaking or of some one else?
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Rise and Fall of Cesar Birotteau by Honore de Balzac: "Monsieur Birotteau," said the Vicomte de Vandenesse, "your efforts to
pay your creditors in full have accidentally become known to the king.
His Majesty, touched by such rare conduct, and hearing that through
humility you no longer wear the cross of the Legion of honor, has sent
me to command you to put it on again. Moreover, wishing to help you in
meeting your obligations, he has charged me to give you this sum from
his privy purse, regretting that he is unable to make it larger. Let
this be a profound secret. His Majesty thinks it derogatory to the
royal dignity to have his good deeds divulged," said the private
secretary, putting six thousand francs into the hand of the poor
clerk, who listened to this speech with unutterable emotion. The words
Rise and Fall of Cesar Birotteau |
