| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson by Robert Louis Stevenson: expecting an invasion of Kiplings; very glad we shall be to see
them; but two of the party are ladies, and I tell you we had to
hold a council of war to stow them. You European ladies are so
particular; with all of mine, sleeping has long become a public
function, as with natives and those who go down much into the sea
in ships.
Dear Mrs. Fairchild, I must go to my work. I have but two words to
say in conclusion.
First, civilisation is rot.
Second, console a savage with more of the milk of that over
civilised being, your adorable schoolboy.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from On the Duty of Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau: respects. It will not be worth the while to accumulate
property; that would be sure to go again. You must hire or
squat somewhere, and raise but a small crop, and eat that
soon. You must live within yourself, and depend upon
yourself always tucked up and ready for a start, and not
have many affairs. A man may grow rich in Turkey even, if
he will be in all respects a good subject of the Turkish
government. Confucius said: "If a state is governed by the
principles of reason, poverty and misery are subjects of
shame; if a state is not governed by the principles of
reason, riches and honors are subjects of shame." No: until
On the Duty of Civil Disobedience |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Almayer's Folly by Joseph Conrad: Almayer up the steps of the verandah.
"No, he seems more of a fool than a knave; I have heard of him,"
returned the senior.
They sat around the table. Almayer with shaking hands made gin
cocktails, offered them all round, and drank himself, with every
gulp feeling stronger, steadier, and better able to face all the
difficulties of his position. Ignorant of the fate of the brig
he did not suspect the real object of the officer's visit. He
had a general notion that something must have leaked out about
the gunpowder trade, but apprehended nothing beyond some
temporary inconveniences. After emptying his glass he began to
Almayer's Folly |
