| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Golden Sayings of Epictetus by Epictetus: dead, few rise to the blessed kinship with the Divine. Since then
every one must deal with each thing according to the view which
he forms about it, those few who hold that they are born for
fidelity, modesty, and unerring sureness in dealing with the
things of sense, never conceive aught base or ignoble of
themselves: but the multitude the contrary. Why, what am I?--A
wretched human creature; with this miserable flesh of mine.
Miserable indeed! but you have something better than that paltry
flesh of yours. Why then cling to the one, and neglect the other?
X
Thou art but a poor soul laden with a lifeless body.
The Golden Sayings of Epictetus |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Moon-Face and Other Stories by Jack London: Lute almost caught up amongst the trees, but was hopelessly outdistanced on
the fallow field adjoining, across which the mare tore with a fine disregard
for heavy ground and gopher-holes. When she turned at a sharp angle into the
thicket-land beyond, Lute took the long diagonal, skirted the ticket, and
reined in Ban at the other side. She had arrived first. From within the
thicket she could hear a tremendous crashing of brush and branches. Then the
mare burst through and into the open, falling to her knees, exhausted, on the
soft earth. She arose and staggered forward, then came limply to a halt. She
was in lather-sweat of fear, and stood trembling pitiably.
Chris was still on her back. His shirt was in ribbons. The backs of his hands
were bruised and lacerated, while his face was streaming blood from a gash
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Dark Lady of the Sonnets by George Bernard Shaw: thou liest.
THE BEEFEATER. You judge too much by the Court, sir. There, indeed,
you may say of frailty that its name is woman.
THE MAN. _[pulling out his tablets again]_ Prithee say that again:
that about frailty: the strain of music.
THE BEEFEATER. What strain of music, sir? I'm no musician, God
knows.
THE MAN. There is music in your soul: many of your degree have it
very notably. _[Writing]_ "Frailty: thy name is woman!"
_[Repeating it affectionately]_ "Thy name is woman."
THE BEEFEATER. Well, sir, it is but four words. Are you a snapper-up
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