| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Reason Discourse by Rene Descartes: lead them by a shorter course, and will lose themselves and continue to
wander for life; in the second place, of those who, possessed of
sufficient sense or modesty to determine that there are others who excel
them in the power of discriminating between truth and error, and by whom
they may be instructed, ought rather to content themselves with the
opinions of such than trust for more correct to their own reason.
For my own part, I should doubtless have belonged to the latter class, had
I received instruction from but one master, or had I never known the
diversities of opinion that from time immemorial have prevailed among men
of the greatest learning. But I had become aware, even so early as during
my college life, that no opinion, however absurd and incredible, can be
Reason Discourse |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Bronte Sisters: abhor my own life, I'll leave that, too, to Him that gave it.'
'But you see, in this case,' pleaded Hattersley -
'I'll not hear you!' exclaimed his companion, hastily turning away.
'Not another word! I've enough to do against the fiend within me.'
'Then you're a white-livered fool, and I wash my hands of you,'
grumbled the tempter, as he swung himself round and departed.
'Right, right, Lord Lowborough,' cried I, darting out and clasping
his burning hand, as he was moving away to the stairs. 'I begin to
think the world is not worthy of you!' Not understanding this
sudden ebullition, he turned upon me with a stare of gloomy,
bewildered amazement, that made me ashamed of the impulse to which
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: the truth, and recognize the Creator of all. Nay, but we shut
our eyes, and would not behold the light which thou didst
enkindle more brightly for us. Much evil did we do unto thee,
and many of the Christians, alas! did we destroy; who,
strengthened by the power that aided them, finally triumphed over
our cruelty. But now we have removed that dense mist from our
eyes, and see some small ray of truth, and there cometh on us
repentance of our misdeeds. But a new cloud of despair would
overshadow it; despair at the multitude of mine offences, because
I am now abominable and unacceptable to Christ, being a rebel and
a foeman unto him. What, then, sayest thou, dearest son, hereto?
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