| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from A Distinguished Provincial at Paris by Honore de Balzac: worldly wisdom to a woman of the world. He had made his appearance
before her in faultless dress, a neat cab was waiting for him at the
door; and Mme. de Bargeton, standing by the window thinking over the
position, chanced to see the elderly dandy drive away.
A few moments later Lucien appeared, half awake and hastily dressed.
He was handsome, it is true; but his clothes, his last year's nankeen
trousers, and his shabby tight jacket were ridiculous. Put Antinous or
the Apollo Belvedere himself into a water-carrier's blouse, and how
shall you recognize the godlike creature of the Greek or Roman chisel?
The eyes note and compare before the heart has time to revise the
swift involuntary judgment; and the contrast between Lucien and
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Alcibiades I by Plato: SOCRATES: But you surely know what are the charges which we bring against
one another, when we arrive at the point of making war, and what name we
give them?
ALCIBIADES: Yes, certainly; we say that deceit or violence has been
employed, or that we have been defrauded.
SOCRATES: And how does this happen? Will you tell me how? For there may
be a difference in the manner.
ALCIBIADES: Do you mean by 'how,' Socrates, whether we suffered these
things justly or unjustly?
SOCRATES: Exactly.
ALCIBIADES: There can be no greater difference than between just and
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Amy Foster by Joseph Conrad: dited the deed, and I remember him telling me he
had a great pleasure in making it ready. It re-
cited: 'In consideration of saving the life of my
beloved grandchild, Bertha Willcox.'
"Of course, after that no power on earth could
prevent them from getting married.
"Her infatuation endured. People saw her go-
ing out to meet him in the evening. She stared
with unblinking, fascinated eyes up the road where
he was expected to appear, walking freely, with a
swing from the hip, and humming one of the love-
Amy Foster |
