| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Perfect Wagnerite: A Commentary on the Niblung's Ring by George Bernard Shaw: order, patriotism, and learning, he promptly uses his freedom to
put on a headier set of chains; expels anti-militarists with the
blood-thirstiest martial anti-foreign ardor; and gives the Kaiser
reason to thank heaven that he was born in the comparative
freedom and Laodicean tolerance of Kingship, and not in the
Calvinistic bigotry and pedantry of Marxism.
Why, then, you may ask, do I say that I am bound to Germany by
the ties that hold my nature most strongly? Very simply because I
should have perished of despair in my youth but for the world
created for me by that great German dynasty which began with Bach
and will perhaps not end with Richard Strauss. Do not suppose for
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Mrs. Warren's Profession by George Bernard Shaw: VIVIE. Yes: goodbye. Come: dont let us make a useless scene:
you understand perfectly well. Sir George Crofts has told me the
whole business.
MRS WARREN [angrily] Silly old-- [She swallows an epithet, and
then turns white at the narrowness of her escape from uttering
it].
VIVIE. Just so.
MRS WARREN. He ought to have his tongue cut out. But I thought
it was ended: you said you didnt mind.
VIVIE [steadfastly] Excuse me: I d o mind.
MRS WARREN. But I explained--
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians by Martin Luther: Christ, "who is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that
believeth." (Romans 1:4.) Christ relieves the conscience of the Law. In so far
as the Law impels us to Christ it renders excellent service.
I do not mean to give the impression that the Law should be despised. Neither
does Paul intend to leave that impression. The Law ought to be honored. But
when it is a matter of justification before God, Paul had to speak
disparagingly of the Law, because the Law has nothing to do with
justification. If it thrusts its nose into the business of justification we
must talk harshly to the Law to keep it in its place. The conscience ought not
to be on speaking terms with the Law. The conscience ought to know only
Christ. To say this is easy, but in times of trial, when the conscience writhes
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