| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Deserted Woman by Honore de Balzac: tying. There are believers in the omnipotence of necessity who never
turn back; the close presence of danger is an inspiration that calls
out all their powers for victory. Gaston de Nueil was one of these.
He took particular pains with his dress, imagining, as youth is apt to
imagine, that success or failure hangs on the position of a curl, and
ignorant of the fact that anything is charming in youth. And, in any
case, such women as Mme. de Beauseant are only attracted by the charms
of wit or character of an unusual order. Greatness of character
flatters their vanity, promises a great passion, seems to imply a
comprehension of the requirements of their hearts. Wit amuses them,
responds to the subtlety of their natures, and they think that they
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Lysis by Plato: Lysis, who, like Charmides, is an Athenian youth of noble descent and of
great beauty, goodness, and intelligence: this is carried on in the
absence of Menexenus, who is called away to take part in a sacrifice.
Socrates asks Lysis whether his father and mother do not love him very
much? 'To be sure they do.' 'Then of course they allow him to do exactly
as he likes.' 'Of course not: the very slaves have more liberty than he
has.' 'But how is this?' 'The reason is that he is not old enough.' 'No;
the real reason is that he is not wise enough: for are there not some
things which he is allowed to do, although he is not allowed to do others?'
'Yes, because he knows them, and does not know the others.' This leads to
the conclusion that all men everywhere will trust him in what he knows, but
Lysis |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Atheist's Mass by Honore de Balzac: Zoppi's seemed to me a promised land where none but the Lucullus
of the pays Latin had a right of entry. 'Shall I ever take a cup
of coffee there with milk in it?' said I to myself, 'or play a
game of dominoes?'
"I threw into my work the fury I felt at my misery. I tried to
master positive knowledge so as to acquire the greatest personal
value, and merit the position I should hold as soon as I could
escape from nothingness. I consumed more oil than bread; the
light I burned during these endless nights cost me more than
food. It was a long duel, obstinate, with no sort of consolation.
I found no sympathy anywhere. To have friends, must we not form
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