| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Figure in the Carpet by Henry James: upstairs with him and look at it on going to dress. He did this
half an hour later - I saw it in his hand when he repaired to his
room. That was the moment at which, thinking to give her pleasure,
I mentioned to Lady Jane that I was the author of the review. I
did give her pleasure, I judged, but perhaps not quite so much as I
had expected. If the author was "only me" the thing didn't seem
quite so remarkable. Hadn't I had the effect rather of diminishing
the lustre of the article than of adding to my own? Her ladyship
was subject to the most extraordinary drops. It didn't matter; the
only effect I cared about was the one it would have on Vereker up
there by his bedroom fire.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli: yourself with arms. And irresolute princes, to avoid present dangers,
generally follow the neutral path, and are generally ruined. But when
a prince declares himself gallantly in favour of one side, if the
party with whom he allies himself conquers, although the victor may be
powerful and may have him at his mercy, yet he is indebted to him, and
there is established a bond of amity; and men are never so shameless
as to become a monument of ingratitude by oppressing you. Victories
after all are never so complete that the victor must not show some
regard, especially to justice. But if he with whom you ally yourself
loses, you may be sheltered by him, and whilst he is able he may aid
you, and you become companions on a fortune that may rise again.
The Prince |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg by Mark Twain: "Sit down!" said the Chair, sharply, and they obeyed. "That, as I
have said, was a serious thing. And it was--but for only one of
them. But the matter has become graver; for the honour of BOTH is
now in formidable peril. Shall I go even further, and say in
inextricable peril? BOTH left out the crucial fifteen words." He
paused. During several moments he allowed the pervading stillness
to gather and deepen its impressive effects, then added: "There
would seem to be but one way whereby this could happen. I ask these
gentlemen--Was there COLLUSION?--AGREEMENT?"
A low murmur sifted through the house; its import was, "He's got
them both."
The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg |
