| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Z. Marcas by Honore de Balzac: some little fortune. The pear-shaped head of the grocer's son is
selected in preference to the square skull of a man of talent who has
not a sou. Work as he will, with all his energy, a young man, starting
from zero, may at the end of ten years find himself below the point he
set out from. In these days, talent must have the good luck which
secures success to the most incapable; nay, more, if it scorns the
base compromises which insure advancement to crawling mediocrity, it
will never get on.
If we thoroughly knew our time, we also knew ourselves, and we
preferred the indolence of dreamers to aimless stir, easy-going
pleasure to the useless toil which would have exhausted our courage
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Reminiscences of Tolstoy by Leo Tolstoy: spoke of him with great affection.
¹His wife's.
MY FATHER'S ILLNESS IN THE CRIMEA
IN the autumn of 1901 my father was attacked by persistent
feverishness, and the doctors advised him to spend the winter in
the Crimea. Countess Panina kindly lent him her Villa Gaspra, near
Koréiz, and he spent the winter there.
Soon after his arrival, he caught cold and had two illnesses
one after the other, enteric fever and inflammation of the lungs.
At one time his condition was so bad that the doctors had hardly
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Koran: term, do not prevent them from marrying their (fresh) husbands, when
they have agreed with each other reasonably. That is what he is
admonished with who amongst you believes in God and in the last day.
That is more pure for you and cleaner. But God knows, and ye know not.
Mothers must suckle their children two whole years for one who
wishes to complete the time of suckling; and on him to whom it is born
its sustenance and clothing are incumbent; but in reason, for no
soul shall be obliged beyond its capacity. A mother shall not be
forced for her child; nor he to whom it is born for his child. And the
same (is incumbent) on the heir (of the father). But if both parties
wish to wean, by mutual consent and counsel, then it is no crime in
The Koran |
