| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Laches by Plato: and thoroughly sifted him. Now I am used to his ways; and I know that he
will certainly do as I say, and also that I myself shall be the sufferer;
for I am fond of his conversation, Lysimachus. And I think that there is
no harm in being reminded of any wrong thing which we are, or have been,
doing: he who does not fly from reproof will be sure to take more heed of
his after-life; as Solon says, he will wish and desire to be learning so
long as he lives, and will not think that old age of itself brings wisdom.
To me, to be cross-examined by Socrates is neither unusual nor unpleasant;
indeed, I knew all along that where Socrates was, the argument would soon
pass from our sons to ourselves; and therefore, I say that for my part, I
am quite willing to discourse with Socrates in his own manner; but you had
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The American by Henry James: Could he not scrape together a few conclusions? Baden-Baden was
the prettiest place he had seen yet, and orchestral music in
the evening, under the stars, was decidedly a great institution.
This was one of his conclusions! But he went on to reflect
that he had done very wisely to pull up stakes and come abroad;
this seeing of the world was a very interesting thing.
He had learned a great deal; he couldn't say just what,
but he had it there under his hat-band. He had done what he wanted;
he had seen the great things, and he had given his mind a chance
to "improve," if it would. He cheerfully believed that it
had improved. Yes, this seeing of the world was very pleasant,
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Ten Years Later by Alexandre Dumas: knowledge of mankind, if I were -- instead of being a
frivolous, inconsequent, and vain spirit -- of a prudent and
reflective spirit; if, in a word, I had, as certain persons
have known how, regulated my life, you would not receive
twenty thousand livres a year, but a hundred thousand, and
you would not belong to the king, but to me."
D'Artagnan colored slightly. There is sometimes in the
manner in which a eulogium is given, in the voice, in the
affectionate tone, a poison so sweet, that the strongest
mind is intoxicated by it. The superintendent terminated his
speech by opening a drawer, and taking from it four rouleaux
Ten Years Later |
