| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Republic by Plato: rampart impregnable against the world or the Persian host; in time of peace
the preparation for war and their duties to the State, which are also their
duties to one another, take up their whole life and time. The only other
interest which is allowed to them besides that of war, is the interest of
philosophy. When they are too old to be soldiers they are to retire from
active life and to have a second novitiate of study and contemplation.
There is an element of monasticism even in Plato's communism. If he could
have done without children, he might have converted his Republic into a
religious order. Neither in the Laws, when the daylight of common sense
breaks in upon him, does he retract his error. In the state of which he
would be the founder, there is no marrying or giving in marriage: but
The Republic |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Koran: The sending down of the Book from God, the mighty, the wise.
Verily, we have sent down to thee the Book in truth, then serve God,
being sincere in religion unto Him. Aye! God's is the sincere
religion: and those who take beside Him patrons-'We do not serve
them save that they may bring us near to God-' Verily, God will
judge between them concerning that whereon they do dispute.
Verily, God guides not him who is a misbelieving liar.
Had God wished to take to Himself a child, He would have chosen what
He pleased from what He creates;- celebrated be His praises! He is
God, the one, the victorious. He created the heavens and the earth
in truth! It is He who clothes the day with night; and clothes the
The Koran |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Pool in the Desert by Sara Jeanette Duncan: Innes the news of her liberation. It would not be necessary, after
all, or even excusable, to tell Horace. His wife would do that
quickly enough--at least, she had said she would. If she didn't--
well, if she didn't, nothing would be possible but another letter,
giving HIM the simple facts, she, Madeline, carefully out of the way
of his path of duty--at all events, at Calcutta or Bombay. But
there was no danger that Mrs. Innes would lose the advantage of
confession, of throwing herself on his generosity--and at this point
Madeline usually felt her defenses against her better nature
considerably strengthened, and the date of her sacrifice grow vague
again.
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