| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift: many gentlemen of this kingdom, having of late destroyed their
deer, he conceived that the want of venison might be well
supply'd by the bodies of young lads and maidens, not exceeding
fourteen years of age, nor under twelve; so great a number of
both sexes in every country being now ready to starve for want of
work and service: And these to be disposed of by their parents if
alive, or otherwise by their nearest relations. But with due
deference to so excellent a friend, and so deserving a patriot, I
cannot be altogether in his sentiments; for as to the males, my
American acquaintance assured me from frequent experience, that
their flesh was generally tough and lean, like that of our
A Modest Proposal |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Secrets of the Princesse de Cadignan by Honore de Balzac: and well appreciated by these four persons, habitually victimized to
the endless caution entailed by the world of salons and politics.
There are beings who have the privilege of passing among men like
beneficent stars, whose light illumines the mind, while its rays send
a glow to the heart. D'Arthez was one of those beings. A writer who
rises to his level, accustoms himself to free thought, and forgets
that in society all things cannot be said; it is impossible for such a
man to observe the restraint of persons who live in the world
perpetually; but as his eccentricities of thought bore the mark of
originality, no one felt inclined to complain. This zest, this
piquancy, rare in mere talent, this youthfulness and simplicity of
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Another Study of Woman by Honore de Balzac: "For six months, possessed by my passion," de Marsay went on, "but
incapable of suspecting that it had overmastered me, I had abandoned
myself to that rapturous idolatry which is at once the triumph and the
frail joy of the young. I treasured /her/ old gloves; I drank an
infusion of the flowers /she/ had worn; I got out of bed at night to
go and gaze at /her/ window. All my blood rushed to my heart when I
inhaled the perfume she used. I was miles away from knowing that woman
is a stove with a marble casing."
"Oh! spare us your terrible verdicts," cried Madame de Montcornet with
a smile.
"I believe I should have crushed with my scorn the philosopher who
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