| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Gorgias by Plato: unwilling to incur the persecution and enmity which political convictions
would entail upon him. He begins with popularity, and in fair weather
sails gallantly along. But unpopularity soon follows him. For men expect
their leaders to be better and wiser than themselves: to be their guides
in danger, their saviours in extremity; they do not really desire them to
obey all the ignorant impulses of the popular mind; and if they fail them
in a crisis they are disappointed. Then, as Socrates says, the cry of
ingratitude is heard, which is most unreasonable; for the people, who have
been taught no better, have done what might be expected of them, and their
statesmen have received justice at their hands.
The true statesman is aware that he must adapt himself to times and
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley: "Made it up?"
"Made it up, thank God. But I am weary. Set me down awhile, and I
will tell you how it befell."
Wondering, they set him down upon the heather, while the bees
hummed round them in the sun; and Amyas felt for a hand of each,
and clasped it in his own hand, and began:
"When you left me there upon the rock, lads, I looked away and out
to sea, to get one last snuff of the merry sea-breeze, which will
never sail me again. And as I looked, I tell you truth, I could
see the water and the sky; as plain as ever I saw them, till I
thought my sight was come again. But soon I knew it was not so;
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Damaged Goods by Upton Sinclair: again--her longing to see her grandchildren before she died?
Madame Dupont waited only long enough for George to stammer out a
few protestations, and then in the next breath to take them back;
after which she proceeded to go ahead with the match. The family
lawyers conferred together, and the terms of the settlement were
worked out and agreed upon. It happened that immediately
afterwards George learned of an opportunity to purchase the
practice of a notary, who was ready to retire from business in
two months' time. Henriette's father consented to advance a
portion of her dowry for this purpose.
Thus George was safely started upon the same career as his
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