| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas: Batavian Republic was solid enough for its people to dance
on it, with the accompaniment of the cannon of their fleets.
The Horticultural Society of Haarlem had shown itself worthy
of its fame by giving a hundred thousand guilders for the
bulb of a tulip. The town, which did not wish to be outdone,
voted a like sum, which was placed in the hands of that
notable body to solemnise the auspicious event.
And indeed on the Sunday fixed for this ceremony there was
such a stir among the people, and such an enthusiasm among
the townsfolk, that even a Frenchman, who laughs at
everything at all times, could not have helped admiring the
The Black Tulip |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Illustrious Gaudissart by Honore de Balzac: other. You have great influence in this district--"
"I should think so!" said the madman; "I am the Head of Vouvray!"
"Well, I see that you thoroughly comprehend the insurance of
intellectual capital--"
"Thoroughly."
"--and that you have measured the full importance of the 'Globe'--"
"Twice; on foot."
Gaudissart was listening to himself and not to the replies of his
hearer.
"Therefore, in view of your circumstances and of your age, I quite
understand that you have no need of insurance for yourself; but,
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Soul of Man by Oscar Wilde: To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that
is all.
It is a question whether we have ever seen the full expression of a
personality, except on the imaginative plane of art. In action, we
never have. Caesar, says Mommsen, was the complete and perfect
man. But how tragically insecure was Caesar! Wherever there is a
man who exercises authority, there is a man who resists authority.
Caesar was very perfect, but his perfection travelled by too
dangerous a road. Marcus Aurelius was the perfect man, says Renan.
Yes; the great emperor was a perfect man. But how intolerable were
the endless claims upon him! He staggered under the burden of the
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