| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Herland by Charlotte Gilman: Then studying my point of view more closely, she added:
"You see, we recognize, in our human motherhood, a great tender
limitless uplifting force--patience and wisdom and all subtlety
of delicate method. We credit God--our idea of God--with all that
and more. Our mothers are not angry with us--why should God be?"
"Does God mean a person to you?"
This she thought over a little. "Why--in trying to get close
to it in our minds we personify the idea, naturally; but we
certainly do not assume a Big Woman somewhere, who is God.
What we call God is a Pervading Power, you know, an Indwelling
Spirit, something inside of us that we want more of. Is your God
Herland |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Large Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther: insolent, and no one dare call you a thief.
The same I say also of mechanics, workmen, and day-laborers, who all
follow their wanton notions, and never know enough ways to overcharge
people, while they are lazy and unfaithful in their work. All these are
far worse than sneak-thieves, against whom we can guard with locks and
bolts, or who, if apprehended, are treated in such a manner that they
will not do the same again. But against these no one can guard, no one
dare even look awry at them or accuse them of theft, so that one would
ten times rather lose from his purse. For here are my neighbors, good
friends, my own servants, from whom I expect good [every faithful and
diligent service], who defraud me first of all.
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Manon Lescaut by Abbe Prevost: his power to such a scheme; that he would first try all other
means of turning me from such a purpose, but that if I refused to
renounce so fatal a resolution, he assuredly would inform some
persons of my intention, who would be able to defeat it. He held
forth upon the subject for a full quarter of an hour, in the most
serious tone, and ended by again threatening to inform against
me, if I did not pledge him my word that I would return to the
paths of discretion and reason.
"I was in despair at having so awkwardly betrayed myself.
However, love having wonderfully sharpened my intellect during
the last two or three hours, I recollected that I had not yet
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