| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Tour Through Eastern Counties of England by Daniel Defoe: by that arrow shot in the dark it was a misfortune. But it is so
much a happiness that it was not a mortal wound, as it was to some
men who once seemed as much out of the reach of it. And that blow,
be it what it will, is not remembered for joy of the escape, for we
see this noble family, by prudence and management, rise out of all
that cloud, if it may be allowed such a name, and shining in the
same full lustre as before.
This cannot be said of some other families in this county, whose
fine parks and new-built palaces are fallen under forfeitures and
alienations by the misfortunes of the times and by the ruin of
their masters' fortunes in that South Sea deluge.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Tono Bungay by H. G. Wells: "There's Boom," he reflected.
"It's a wonderful system this old British system, George. It's
staid and stable and yet it has a place for new men. We come up
and take our places. It's almost expected. We take a hand.
That's where our Democracy differs from America. Over there a
man succeeds; all he gets is money. Here there's a system open
to every one--practically.... Chaps like Boom--come from
nowhere."
His voice ceased. I reflected upon the spirit of his words.
Suddenly I kicked my feet in the air, rolled on my side and sat
up suddenly on my deck chair with my legs down.
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Island Nights' Entertainments by Robert Louis Stevenson: lives in it, and that is the shadow we behold there moving: or so I
suppose. If any man buy this bottle the imp is at his command; all
that he desires - love, fame, money, houses like this house, ay, or
a city like this city - all are his at the word uttered. Napoleon
had this bottle, and by it he grew to be the king of the world; but
he sold it at the last, and fell. Captain Cook had this bottle,
and by it he found his way to so many islands; but he, too, sold
it, and was slain upon Hawaii. For, once it is sold, the power
goes and the protection; and unless a man remain content with what
he has, ill will befall him."
"And yet you talk of selling it yourself?" Keawe said.
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