| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Walden by Henry David Thoreau: case? When men begin to do, not merely unnecessary or artistic, but
luxurious and idle work, with their assistance, it is inevitable
that a few do all the exchange work with the oxen, or, in other
words, become the slaves of the strongest. Man thus not only works
for the animal within him, but, for a symbol of this, he works for
the animal without him. Though we have many substantial houses of
brick or stone, the prosperity of the farmer is still measured by
the degree to which the barn overshadows the house. This town is
said to have the largest houses for oxen, cows, and horses
hereabouts, and it is not behindhand in its public buildings; but
there are very few halls for free worship or free speech in this
Walden |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde: LADY WINDERMERE. [Shaking her head.] No, I am talking very
seriously. You mustn't laugh, I am quite serious. I don't like
compliments, and I don't see why a man should think he is pleasing
a woman enormously when he says to her a whole heap of things that
he doesn't mean.
LORD DARLINGTON. Ah, but I did mean them. [Takes tea which she
offers him.]
LADY WINDERMERE. [Gravely.] I hope not. I should be sorry to
have to quarrel with you, Lord Darlington. I like you very much,
you know that. But I shouldn't like you at all if I thought you
were what most other men are. Believe me, you are better than most
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Within the Tides by Joseph Conrad: hand, which was ungloved, in his extended palm.
"Will you condescend to remember me?" he asked, while an emotion
with which she was angry made her pale cheeks flush and her black
eyes sparkle.
"This is a strange request for you to make," she said exaggerating
the coldness of her tone.
"Is it? Impudent perhaps. Yet I am not so guilty as you think;
and bear in mind that to me you can never make reparation."
"Reparation? To you! It is you who can offer me no reparation for
the offence against my feelings - and my person; for what
reparation can be adequate for your odious and ridiculous plot so
Within the Tides |
