| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Golden Sayings of Epictetus by Epictetus: Rome are upon what interests them, we too might perhaps
accomplish something. I know a man older than I am, now
Superintendent of the Corn-market at Rome, and I remember when he
passed through this place on his way back from exile, what an
account he gave me of his former life, declaring that for the
future, once home again, his only care should be to pass his
remaining years in quiet and tranquility. "For how few years have
I left!" he cried. "That," I said, "you will not do; but the
moment the scent of Rome is in your nostrils, you will forget it
all; and if you can but gain admission to Court, you will be glad
enough to elbow your way in, and thank God for it." "Epictetus,"
The Golden Sayings of Epictetus |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians by Xenophon: just far enough from one another, or from the place of arms itself,
not to create annoyance. The need of precaution is the whole
explanation.
[7] See Critias, ap. Schneider ad loc.
The frequency with which they change their encampments is another
point. It is done quite as much for the sake of benefiting their
friends as of annoying their enemies.
Further, the law enjoins upon all Lacedaemonians, during the whole
period of an expedition, the constant practice of gymnastic[8]
exercises, whereby their pride[9] in themselves is increased, and they
appear freer and of a more liberal aspect than the rest of the
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin: with a pewter spoon. But mark how luxury will enter families,
and make a progress, in spite of principle: being call'd one morning
to breakfast, I found it in a China bowl, with a spoon of silver!
They had been bought for me without my knowledge by my wife,
and had cost her the enormous sum of three-and-twenty shillings,
for which she had no other excuse or apology to make, but that she
thought her husband deserv'd a silver spoon and China bowl as well
as any of his neighbors. This was the first appearance of plate
and China in our house, which afterward, in a course of years,
as our wealth increas'd, augmented gradually to several hundred pounds
in value.
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin |
