| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Alcibiades I by Plato: SOCRATES: Very good; and can you tell me how long it is since you thought
that you did not know the nature of the just and the unjust? What do you
say to a year ago? Were you then in a state of conscious ignorance and
enquiry? Or did you think that you knew? And please to answer truly, that
our discussion may not be in vain.
ALCIBIADES: Well, I thought that I knew.
SOCRATES: And two years ago, and three years ago, and four years ago, you
knew all the same?
ALCIBIADES: I did.
SOCRATES: And more than four years ago you were a child--were you not?
ALCIBIADES: Yes.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield: ran away. Yes, I did, round the corners, in and out, I don't know how far
I didn't run. Oh, dear, I must have looked a sight, with my hand rolled up
in my pinny and my hair sticking out. People must have laughed when they
saw me...
...No, madam, grandfather never got over it. He couldn't bear the sight of
me after. Couldn't eat his dinner, even, if I was there. So my aunt took
me. She was a cripple, an upholstress. Tiny! She had to stand on the
sofas when she wanted to cut out the backs. And it was helping her I met
my lady...
...Not so very, madam. I was thirteen, turned. And I don't remember ever
feeling--well--a child, as you might say. You see there was my uniform,
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens: 'Why, where else should he sit?' asked Hugh, holding the lantern to
his breast, to keep the candle from the wind, while he trimmed it
with his fingers. 'It's snug enough, an't it?'
'Snug!' said John indignantly. 'You have a comfortable idea of
snugness, you have, sir. Do you know what was done in that room,
you ruffian?'
'Why, what is it the worse for that!' cried Hugh, looking into
John's fat face. 'Does it keep out the rain, and snow, and wind,
the less for that? Is it less warm or dry, because a man was
killed there? Ha, ha, ha! Never believe it, master. One man's no
such matter as that comes to.'
Barnaby Rudge |
