| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Unseen World and Other Essays by John Fiske: theories of the Pharisees in conformity to advanced Essenian
notions. It seems highly probable that some such refined
conception of the functions of the Messiah was reached by John,
who, stigmatizing the Pharisees and Sadducees as a "generation of
vipers," called aloud to the people to repent of their sins, in
view of the speedy advent of the Messiah, and to testify to their
repentance by submitting to the Essenian rite of baptism. There
is no positive evidence that Jesus was ever a disciple of John;
yet the account of the baptism, in spite of the legendary
character of its details, seems to rest upon a historical basis;
and perhaps the most plausible hypothesis which can be framed is,
The Unseen World and Other Essays |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Louis Lambert by Honore de Balzac: "And are there not in our inner nature phenomena of weight and motion
comparable to those of physical nature? Suspense, to choose an example
vividly familiar to everybody, is painful only as a result of the law
in virtue of which the weight of a body is multiplied by its velocity.
The weight of the feeling produced by suspense increases by the
constant addition of past pain to the pain of the moment.
"And then, to what, unless it be to the electric fluid, are we to
attribute the magic by which the Will enthrones itself so imperiously
in the eye to demolish obstacles at the behest of genius, thunders in
the voice, or filters, in spite of dissimulation, through the human
frame? The current of that sovereign fluid, which, in obedience to the
Louis Lambert |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum: found before them a high wall which seemed to be made of white china.
It was smooth, like the surface of a dish, and higher than their heads.
"What shall we do now?" asked Dorothy.
"I will make a ladder," said the Tin Woodman, "for we certainly
must climb over the wall."
20. The Dainty China Country
While the Woodman was making a ladder from wood which he found
in the forest Dorothy lay down and slept, for she was tired by the
long walk. The Lion also curled himself up to sleep and Toto lay
beside him.
The Scarecrow watched the Woodman while he worked, and said to him:
The Wizard of Oz |
