| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from De Profundis by Oscar Wilde: In many ways I had been its enemy, but I found it waiting for me as
a friend. When one comes in contact with the soul it makes one
simple as a child, as Christ said one should be.
It is tragic how few people ever 'possess their souls' before they
die. 'Nothing is more rare in any man,' says Emerson, 'than an act
of his own.' It is quite true. Most people are other people.
Their thoughts are some one else's opinions, their lives a mimicry,
their passions a quotation. Christ was not merely the supreme
individualist, but he was the first individualist in history.
People have tried to make him out an ordinary philanthropist, or
ranked him as an altruist with the scientific and sentimental. But
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Coxon Fund by Henry James: with herself. If however she did speak to you of our conversation
she probably told you I was discouraging."
"Discouraging?"
"On the subject of a present application of The Coxon Fund."
"To the case of Mr. Saltram? My dear fellow, I don't know what you
call discouraging!" Gravener cried.
"Well I thought I was, and I thought she thought I was."
"I believe she did, but such a thing's measured by the effect.
She's not 'discouraged,'" he said.
"That's her own affair. The reason I asked you to see me was that
it appeared to me I ought to tell you frankly that--decidedly!--I
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain: your worst; I'm done with you."
Roxy made no answer. She took the lantern and started for the door.
Tom was in a cold panic in a moment.
"Come back, come back!" he wailed. "I didn't mean it, Roxy;
I take it all back, and I'll never say it again! Please come back, Roxy!"
The woman stood a moment, then she said gravely:
"Dat's one thing you's got to stop, Valet de Chambers. You can't
call me _Roxy_, same as if you was my equal. Chillen don't speak to
dey mammies like dat. You'll call me ma or mammy, dat's what you'll
call me--leastways when de ain't nobody aroun'. _Say_ it!"
It cost Tom a struggle, but he got it out.
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