| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from A Man of Business by Honore de Balzac: for making him pay at once as a swindler's trick. It was a long time
since he had grasped the significance of the bill of exchange in all
its bearings, direct and remote. A young man once, in my place, called
a bill of exchange the 'asses' bridge' in his hearing. 'No,' said he,
'it is the Bridge of Sighs; it is the shortest way to an execution.'
Indeed, his knowledge of commercial law was so complete, that a
professional could not have taught him anything. At that time he had
nothing, as you know. His carriage and horses were jobbed; he lived in
his valet's house; and, by the way, he will be a hero to his valet to
the end of the chapter, even after the marriage that he proposes to
make. He belonged to three clubs, and dined at one of them whenever he
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from King James Bible: hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
LUK 5:2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were
gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
LUK 5:3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and
prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat
down, and taught the people out of the ship.
LUK 5:4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out
into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
LUK 5:5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all
the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let
down the net.
King James Bible |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from End of the Tether by Joseph Conrad: retired naval officer had been pitchforked into the ap-
pointment--a man that would understand nothing and
care less. That steamer was a coasting craft having a
steady trade connection as far north as Tenasserim; but
the trouble was she could get no captain to take her
on her regular trip. Nobody would go in her. He
really had no power, of course, to order a man to take
a job. It was all very well to stretch a point on the
demand of a consul-general, but . . .
"What's the matter with the ship?" Captain Whalley
interrupted in measured tones.
End of the Tether |
