| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Maid Marian by Thomas Love Peacock: we should most convincingly admonish them, with point of arrow,
that they have nothing to do with our laws but to obey them.
Is it not written that the fat ribs of the herd shall be fed
upon by the mighty in the land? And have not they withal my
blessing? my orthodox, canonical, and archiepiscopal blessing?
Do I not give thanks for them when they are well roasted and smoking
under my nose? What title had William of Normandy to England,
that Robin of Locksley has not to merry Sherwood? William fought
for his claim. So does Robin. With whom, both? With any
that would or will dispute it. William raised contributions.
So does Robin. From whom, both? From all that they could
|
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Gorgias by Plato: stronger and superior. And this is true, as you may ascertain, if you will
leave philosophy and go on to higher things: for philosophy, Socrates, if
pursued in moderation and at the proper age, is an elegant accomplishment,
but too much philosophy is the ruin of human life. Even if a man has good
parts, still, if he carries philosophy into later life, he is necessarily
ignorant of all those things which a gentleman and a person of honour ought
to know; he is inexperienced in the laws of the State, and in the language
which ought to be used in the dealings of man with man, whether private or
public, and utterly ignorant of the pleasures and desires of mankind and of
human character in general. And people of this sort, when they betake
themselves to politics or business, are as ridiculous as I imagine the
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde: night at Willis's?
JACK. I suppose so, if you want to.
ALGERNON. Yes, but you must be serious about it. I hate people
who are not serious about meals. It is so shallow of them.
[Enter LANE.]
Lady Bracknell and Miss Fairfax.
[ALGERNON goes forward to meet them. Enter LADY BRACKNELL and
GWENDOLEN.]
LADY BRACKNELL. Good afternoon, dear Algernon, I hope you are
behaving very well.
ALGERNON. I'm feeling very well, Aunt Augusta.
|
