| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from First Inaugural Address by Abraham Lincoln: the Federal Union, heretofore only menaced, is now formidably attempted.
I hold that, in contemplation of universal law and of the Constitution,
the Union of these States is perpetual. Perpetuity is implied,
if not expressed, in the fundamental law of all national governments.
It is safe to assert that no government proper ever had a provision
in its organic law for its own termination. Continue to execute all
the express provisions of our National Constitution, and the Union will
endure forever--it being impossible to destroy it except by some action
not provided for in the instrument itself.
Again, if the United States be not a government proper, but an association
of States in the nature of contract merely, can it, as a contract,
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Virginian by Owen Wister: "That ain't supposed to be safe, is it?"
"Guess we're all goin' to find out in a few minutes."
"Been trouble between 'em?"
"They've not met before. Trampas don't enjoy losin' to a
stranger."
"Fello's from Arizona, yu' say?"
"No. Virginia. He's recently back from havin' a look at Arizona.
Went down there last year for a change. Works for the Sunk Creek
outfit." And then the dealer lowered his voice still further and
said something in the other man's ear, causing him to grin. After
which both of them looked at me.
The Virginian |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from De Profundis by Oscar Wilde: and idleness and comfort it is more easy to learn the lessons of
humility than it is for me, who begin the day by going down on my
knees and washing the floor of my cell. For prison life with its
endless privations and restrictions makes one rebellious. The most
terrible thing about it is not that it breaks one's heart - hearts
are made to be broken - but that it turns one's heart to stone.
One sometimes feels that it is only with a front of brass and a lip
of scorn that one can get through the day at all. And he who is in
a state of rebellion cannot receive grace, to use the phrase of
which the Church is so fond - so rightly fond, I dare say - for in
life as in art the mood of rebellion closes up the channels of the
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