| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Meno by Plato: of ideas. Knowledge is prior to any particular knowledge, and exists not
in the previous state of the individual, but of the race. It is potential,
not actual, and can only be appropriated by strenuous exertion.
The idealism of Plato is here presented in a less developed form than in
the Phaedo and Phaedrus. Nothing is said of the pre-existence of ideas of
justice, temperance, and the like. Nor is Socrates positive of anything
but the duty of enquiry. The doctrine of reminiscence too is explained
more in accordance with fact and experience as arising out of the
affinities of nature (ate tes thuseos oles suggenous ouses). Modern
philosophy says that all things in nature are dependent on one another; the
ancient philosopher had the same truth latent in his mind when he affirmed
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Iron Puddler by James J. Davis: it comes seed harvest. The waters of the sea are poured in
thunder wrack upon the hills and run in rivers back into the sea.
The winds make weather, and weather profits man. When will man's
turmoil cease, when will he find calm? I do not know. I only know
that toil and struggle are sweet, and that life well lived is
victory. And that calm is death.
Man must face an iron world, but he is iron to subdue it.
The lessons of my life were learned at the forge and I am
grateful for my schooling.
"Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend,
For the lesson thou hast taught!
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Case of The Lamp That Went Out by Grace Isabel Colbron and Augusta Groner: she seemed to them even more an object of adoration than the master.
"Then you evidently have a very good place, since you seem so fond
of every one."
"Indeed I have a good place, sir."
"You've had this place a long time?"
"More than twenty years. My master was only eleven years old when
I took service with the family."
"Ah, indeed! then you must be a person of importance in the house
if you have been there so long?"
"Well more or less I might say I am," the old man smiled and
looked flattered, then added: "But the housekeeper, Mrs. Bernaner,
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