| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Art of War by Sun Tzu: must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we
must make him believe we are near.
20. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder,
and crush him.
[All commentators, except Chang Yu, say, "When he is in
disorder, crush him." It is more natural to suppose that Sun Tzu
is still illustrating the uses of deception in war.]
21. If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If
he is in superior strength, evade him.
22. If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to
irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.
The Art of War |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Symposium by Xenophon: [14] i.e. "they haven't the key (of knowledge) to the allegorical or
spiritual meaning of the sacred text." Cf. Plat. "Crat." 407;
"Ion," 534; "Rep." 378, 387; "Theaet." 180; "Prot." 316. See
Grote, "H. G." i. 564.
[15] See Aristot. "Rhet." iii. 11, 13. "Or we may describe Niceratus
[not improbably our friend] as a 'Philoctetes stung by Pratys,'
using the simile of Thrasymachus when he saw Niceratus after his
defeat by Pratys in the rhapsody with his hair still dishevelled
and his face unwashed."--Welldon. As to Stesimbrotus, see Plat.
"Ion," 530: "Ion. Very true, Socrates; interpretation has
certainly been the most laborious part of my art; and I believe
The Symposium |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from An Unsocial Socialist by George Bernard Shaw: to the Beeches."
"Thank you; I will not trouble you," she said quickly.
He shook his head. "I do not know how long the effect of that
abominable water-weed may last," he said, "and I dare not leave
you to walk alone. If you prefer it I can send you in a trap with
my gardener, but I had rather accompany you myself."
"You are giving yourself a great deal of unnecessary trouble. I
will walk. I am quite well again and need no assistance."
They started without another word. Gertrude had to concentrate
all her energy to conceal from him that she was giddy. Numbness
and lassitude crept upon her, and she was beginning to hope that
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