| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from A Treatise on Parents and Children by George Bernard Shaw: of talking and thinking as if intellect were a mechanical process and
not a passion; and in spite of the German tutors who confess openly
that three out of every five of the young men they coach for
examinations are lamed for life thereby; in spite of Dickens and his
picture of little Paul Dombey dying of lessons, we persist in heaping
on growing children and adolescent youths and maidens tasks Pythagoras
would have declined out of common regard for his own health and common
modesty as to his own capacity. And this overwork is not all the
effect of compulsion; for the average schoolmaster does not compel his
scholars to learn: he only scolds and punishes them if they do not,
which is quite a different thing, the net effect being that the school
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Taras Bulba and Other Tales by Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol: reckoning, made them mount to an incredible percentage. So said
rumour, at any rate. But what was strangest of all was the peculiar
fate of those who received money from him: they all ended their lives
in some unhappy way. Whether this was simply the popular superstition,
or the result of reports circulated with an object, is not known. But
several instances which happened within a brief space of time before
the eyes of every one were vivid and striking.
"Among the aristocracy of that day, one who speedily drew attention to
himself was a young man of one of the best families who had made a
figure in his early years in court circles, a warm admirer of
everything true and noble, zealous in his love for art, and giving
Taras Bulba and Other Tales |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Tanglewood Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne: agitation as by the spectacle of poor Jason's bare foot. But,
as he was naturally a bold and hard-hearted man, he soon took
courage, and began to consider in what way he might rid himself
of this terrible one-sandaled stranger.
"My good young man," said King Pelias, taking the softest tone
imaginable, in order to throw Jason off his guard, "you are
excessively welcome to my kingdom. Judging by your dress, you
must have traveled a long distance, for it is not the fashion
to wear leopard skins in this part of the world. Pray what may
I call your name? and where did you receive your education?"
"My name is Jason," answered the young stranger. "Ever since my
Tanglewood Tales |
