| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli: example: the sea is divided, a cloud has led the way, the rock has
poured forth water, it has rained manna, everything has contributed to
your greatness; you ought to do the rest. God is not willing to do
everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory
which belongs to us.
And it is not to be wondered at if none of the above-named Italians
have been able to accomplish all that is expected from your
illustrious house; and if in so many revolutions in Italy, and in so
many campaigns, it has always appeared as if military virtue were
exhausted, this has happened because the old order of things was not
good, and none of us have known how to find a new one. And nothing
The Prince |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Hellenica by Xenophon: reconciliation with the party of Stasippus. Presently they saw the
Mantineans advancing; whereupon some of them sprang to the walls, and
began calling to them to bring succour with all speed. With shouts
they urged upon them to make haste, whilst others threw open wide the
gates to them. Stasippus and his party, perceiving what was happening,
poured out by the gates leading to Pallantium,[10] and, outspeeding
their pursuers, succeeded in reaching the temple of Artemis, where
they found shelter, and, shutting to the doors, kept quiet. Following
close upon their heels, however, their foes scaled the temple, tore
off the roof, and began striking them down with the tiles. They,
recognising that there was no choice, called upon their assailants to
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Lair of the White Worm by Bram Stoker: dread. Pious individuals put up constant prayers for relief from
the intolerable solitude. After a little there were signs of
universal depression which those who ran might read. One and all,
the faces of men and women seemed bereft of vitality, of interest,
of thought, and, most of all, of hope. Men seemed to have lost the
power of expression of their thoughts. The soundless air seemed to
have the same effect as the universal darkness when men gnawed their
tongues with pain.
From this infliction of silence there was no relief. Everything was
affected; gloom was the predominant note. Joy appeared to have
passed away as a factor of life, and this creative impulse had
Lair of the White Worm |
