| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Tao Teh King by Lao-tze: great calamity, to be regarded as personal conditions (of the same
kind).
2. What is meant by speaking thus of favour and disgrace? Disgrace is
being in a low position (after the enjoyment of favour). The getting
that (favour) leads to the apprehension (of losing it), and the losing
it leads to the fear of (still greater calamity):--this is what is
meant by saying that favour and disgrace would seem equally to be
feared.
And what is meant by saying that honour and great calamity are to be
(similarly) regarded as personal conditions? What makes me liable to
great calamity is my having the body (which I call myself); if I had
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Underground City by Jules Verne: the point of death when you, my Harry, came and saved me.
But now you all see that the grandchild of old Silfax can
never be the wife of Harry Ford, because it would be certain
death to you all!"
"Nell!" cried Harry.
"No," continued the maiden, "my resolution is taken. By one means
only can your ruin be averted; I must return to my grandfather.
He threatens to destroy the whole of New Aberfoyle. His is
a soul incapable of mercy or forgiveness, and no mortal can
say to what horrid deed the spirit of revenge will lead him.
My duty is clear; I should be the most despicable creature on earth
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Memories and Portraits by Robert Louis Stevenson: he had much to do with the contest of Fouquet and Colbert.
Historic justice should be all upon the side of Colbert, of
official honesty, and fiscal competence.
And Dumas knew it well: three times at least he shows his
knowledge; once it is but flashed upon us and received with the
laughter of Fouquet himself, in the jesting controversy in the
gardens of Saint Mande; once it is touched on by Aramis in the
forest of Senart; in the end, it is set before us clearly in one
dignified speech of the triumphant Colbert. But in Fouquet, the
waster, the lover of good cheer and wit and art, the swift
transactor of much business, "L'HOMME DE BRUIT, L'HOMME DE PLAISIR,
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