| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald: "Open up or we'll break the door in!"
In the silence when this voice ceased Amory realized that there
were other things in the room besides people ... over and around
the figure crouched on the bed there hung an aura, gossamer as a
moonbeam, tainted as stale, weak wine, yet a horror, diffusively
brooding already over the three of them ... and over by the
window among the stirring curtains stood something else,
featureless and indistinguishable, yet strangely familiar....
Simultaneously two great cases presented themselves side by side
to Amory; all that took place in his mind, then, occupied in
actual time less than ten seconds.
This Side of Paradise |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Fisherman's Luck by Henry van Dyke: vanished, and the river glittered with the beams of rising hope.
Such is the absurd disposition of some anglers. They never see a
fish without believing that they can catch him; but if they see no
fish, they are inclined to think that the river is empty and the
world hollow.
I said nothing to my companions. It would have been unkind to
disturb them with expectations which might never be realized. My
immediate duty was to get within casting distance of that salmon as
soon as possible.
The way along the shore of the pool was difficult. The bank was
very steep, and the rocks by the river's edge were broken and
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Lysis by Plato: saying that both were friends, if one only loved; but now, unless they both
love, neither is a friend.
That appears to be true.
Then nothing which does not love in return is beloved by a lover?
I think not.
Then they are not lovers of horses, whom the horses do not love in return;
nor lovers of quails, nor of dogs, nor of wine, nor of gymnastic exercises,
who have no return of love; no, nor of wisdom, unless wisdom loves them in
return. Or shall we say that they do love them, although they are not
beloved by them; and that the poet was wrong who sings--
'Happy the man to whom his children are dear, and steeds having single
Lysis |
