The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Charmides by Plato: wisdom or temperance I believe to be really a great good; and happy are
you, Charmides, if you certainly possess it. Wherefore examine yourself,
and see whether you have this gift and can do without the charm; for if you
can, I would rather advise you to regard me simply as a fool who is never
able to reason out anything; and to rest assured that the more wise and
temperate you are, the happier you will be.
Charmides said: I am sure that I do not know, Socrates, whether I have or
have not this gift of wisdom and temperance; for how can I know whether I
have a thing, of which even you and Critias are, as you say, unable to
discover the nature?--(not that I believe you.) And further, I am sure,
Socrates, that I do need the charm, and as far as I am concerned, I shall
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The United States Bill of Rights: and the persons or things to be seized.
V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime,
unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising
in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service
in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for
the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb;
nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself,
nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.
VI
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Somebody's Little Girl by Martha Young: looked first at the night-gown and then at the lady, then at Sister
Helen Vincula. She did not know or care what it was all about--she
scarcely wondered.
``Sister Helen Vincula,'' said the lady, ``I know past all doubting
that I worked this name. You believe that. Much more past all
doubting do you not know--You must know--''
``Ah,'' said Sister Helen Vincula, ``I hope with you.'' She reached
for the little night-gown, and she smoothed it in her fingers.
``Ah,'' she said, ``the child has grown since she has been with us,
so much, but the little gown--it looks--really smaller to me--
But the lady was not listening to Sister Helen Vincula. She had her
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