| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Reminiscences of Tolstoy by Leo Tolstoy: When any one asked my father where he was born, he used to
point to a tall larch which grew on the site of the old
foundations.
"Up there where the top of that larch waves," he used to
say; "that's where my mother's room was, where I was born on a
leather sofa."
My father seldom spoke of his mother, but when he did, it
was delightful to hear him, because the mention of her awoke an
unusual strain of gentleness and tenderness in him. There was
such a ring of respectful affection, so much reverence for her
memory, in his words, that we all looked on her as a sort of
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Lesser Bourgeoisie by Honore de Balzac: Peyrade under lock and key in Clichy. I am resolved not to take no for
his answer to a proposal of which, in the end, he cannot fail to see
the propriety. Therefore, in any case, buy up those notes from
Monsieur Dutocq."
"At par?" asked Cerizet.
"Yes, at par, if you cannot do better; we are not going to haggle over
a few thousand francs; only, when this transaction is arranged,
Monsieur Dutocq must pledge us either his assistance, or, at the very
least, his neutrality. After what you have said of the other marriage,
it is unnecessary for me to warn you that there is not a moment to
lose in putting our irons into the fire."
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Royalty Restored/London Under Charles II by J. Fitzgerald Molloy: for the "Plain Dealer."
"Madam," says Mr. Fairbeard, uncovering, "since you are for the
'Plain Dealer,' there he is for you;" whereon he led Wycherley
towards her.
"This lady," says that gentleman, making her a profound bow, "can
bear plain speaking; for she appears to be so accomplished, that
what would be compliment said to others, spoken to her would be
plain dealing."
"No truly, sir," replied the lady; "I am not without my faults,
like the rest of my sex; and yet, notwithstanding all my faults,
I love plain dealing, and never am more fond of it than when it
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