The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen: a time the paper must have been cheerful enough, but when I saw
it, paint, paper, and everything were most doleful. But the
room was full of horror; I felt my teeth grinding as I put my
hand on the door, and when I went in, I thought I should have
fallen fainting to the floor. However, I pulled myself
together, and stood against the end wall, wondering what on
earth there could be about the room to make my limbs tremble,
and my heart beat as if I were at the hour of death. In one
corner there was a pile of newspapers littered on the floor, and
I began looking at them; they were papers of three or four years
ago, some of them half torn, and some crumpled as if they had
 The Great God Pan |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Plutarch's Lives by A. H. Clough: was admirable to see with what composure and in what high style
they addressed themselves to the people; but that the orations
of Demosthenes, when they are read, certainly appear to be
superior in point of construction, and more effective. His
written speeches, beyond all question, are characterized by
austere tone and by their severity. In his extempore retorts
and rejoinders, he allowed himself the use of jest and mockery.
When Demades said, "Demosthenes teach me! So might the sow
teach Minerva!" he replied, "Was it this Minerva, that was
lately found playing the harlot in Collytus?" When a thief,
who had the nickname of the Brazen, was attempting to upbraid
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Of The Nature of Things by Lucretius: And lest the winds blew back again, no force
Could rein things in nor hold from sure career
On to disaster. But now because those winds
Blow back and forth in alternation strong,
And, so to say, rallying charge again,
And then repulsed retreat, on this account
Earth oftener threatens than she brings to pass
Collapses dire. For to one side she leans,
Then back she sways; and after tottering
Forward, recovers then her seats of poise.
Thus, this is why whole houses rock, the roofs
 Of The Nature of Things |