| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Lay Morals by Robert Louis Stevenson: this, and this only, can they be explained and applied. And
thus, to learn aright from any teacher, we must first of all,
like a historical artist, think ourselves into sympathy with
his position and, in the technical phrase, create his
character. A historian confronted with some ambiguous
politician, or an actor charged with a part, have but one
pre-occupation; they must search all round and upon every
side, and grope for some central conception which is to
explain and justify the most extreme details; until that is
found, the politician is an enigma, or perhaps a quack, and
the part a tissue of fustian sentiment and big words; but
|
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Ferragus by Honore de Balzac: everybody else in this place. Does monsieur--Why, he's gone!"
Some days had elapsed when a man dressed in black called at the house
of Monsieur Jules Desmarets, and without asking to see him carried up
to the chamber of his wife a large porphyry vase, on which were
inscribed the words:--
INVITA LEGE
CONJUGI MOERENTI
FILIOLAE CINERES
RESTITUIT
AMICIS XII. JUVANTIBUS
MORIBUNDUS PATER.
Ferragus |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Disputation of the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences by Dr. Martin Luther: 20. [70] Sed magis tenentur omnibus oculis intendere, omnibus
auribus advertere, ne pro commissione Pape sua illi somnia
predicent.
21. [71] Contra veniarum apostolicarum veritatem qui loquitur, sit
ille anathema et maledictus.
22. [72] Qui vero, contra libidinem ac licentiam verborum
Concionatoris veniarum curam agit, sit ille benedictus.
23. [73] Sicut Papa iuste fulminat eos, qui in fraudem negocii
veniarum quacunque arte machinantur,
24. [74] Multomagnis fulminare intendit eos, qui per veniarum
pretextum in fraudem sancte charitatis et veritatis machinantur,
|
