| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Democracy In America, Volume 1 by Alexis de Toqueville: the climate and the soil; and even then Americans will be found
ready to defend either the one or the other, as if they had been
contrived by the inhabitants of the country.
In our times option must be made between the patriotism of
all and the government of a few; for the force and activity which
the first confers are irreconcilable with the guarantees of
tranquillity which the second furnishes.
Notion Of Rights In The United States
No great people without a notion of rights - How the notion of
rights can be given to people - Respect of rights in the United
States - Whence it arises.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Paz by Honore de Balzac: myself to Paz. Our two characters have kept their natural asperities
and defects, but the mutual comprehension of our souls has tightened
the bond already close between us. It is quite possible to save a
man's life and kill him afterwards if we find him a bad fellow; but
Paz and I know THAT of each other which makes our friendship
indissoluble. There's a constant exchange of happy thoughts and
impressions between us; and really, perhaps, such a friendship as ours
is richer than love."
A pretty hand closed the count's mouth so promptly that the action was
somewhat like a blow.
"Yes," he said, "friendship, my dear angel, knows nothing of bankrupt
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Schoolmistress and Other Stories by Anton Chekhov: forest road was covered with pools from a recent shower of rain,
and the earth squelched under one's feet. The crimson glow of
sunset flooded the whole forest, coloring the white stems of the
birches and the young leaves. I was exhausted and could hardly
move.
Four or five miles from home, walking along the forest road, I
suddenly met a big black dog of the water spaniel breed. As he
ran by, the dog looked intently at me, straight in my face, and
ran on.
"A nice dog!" I thought. "Whose is it?"
I looked round. The dog was standing ten paces off with his eyes
 The Schoolmistress and Other Stories |