| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Walden by Henry David Thoreau: they break each other's undulations. If we are merely loquacious
and loud talkers, then we can afford to stand very near together,
cheek by jowl, and feel each other's breath; but if we speak
reservedly and thoughtfully, we want to be farther apart, that all
animal heat and moisture may have a chance to evaporate. If we
would enjoy the most intimate society with that in each of us which
is without, or above, being spoken to, we must not only be silent,
but commonly so far apart bodily that we cannot possibly hear each
other's voice in any case. Referred to this standard, speech is for
the convenience of those who are hard of hearing; but there are many
fine things which we cannot say if we have to shout. As the
Walden |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Koran: goodly is the reward of those who work!'
And thou shalt see the angels circling round about the throne,
celebrating the praise of their Lord; and it shall be decided
between them in truth; and it shall be said, 'Praise be to God, the
Lord of the worlds!'
THE CHAPTER OF THE BELIEVER
(XL. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
HA MIM. The sending down of the Book from God, the mighty, the
knowing, the forgiver of sin and accepter of repentance, keen at
punishment, long-suffering! there is no god but He! to whom the
The Koran |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Phaedrus by Plato: own virtue. Remember what I have said; and consider yet this further
point: friends admonish the lover under the idea that his way of life is
bad, but no one of his kindred ever yet censured the non-lover, or thought
that he was ill-advised about his own interests.
'Perhaps you will ask me whether I propose that you should indulge every
non-lover. To which I reply that not even the lover would advise you to
indulge all lovers, for the indiscriminate favour is less esteemed by the
rational recipient, and less easily hidden by him who would escape the
censure of the world. Now love ought to be for the advantage of both
parties, and for the injury of neither.
'I believe that I have said enough; but if there is anything more which you
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