| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Laches by Plato: actions which I call rash;--my courageous actions are wise actions.
LACHES: Behold, Socrates, how admirably, as he thinks, he dresses himself
out in words, while seeking to deprive of the honour of courage those whom
all the world acknowledges to be courageous.
NICIAS: Not so, Laches, but do not be alarmed; for I am quite willing to
say of you and also of Lamachus, and of many other Athenians, that you are
courageous and therefore wise.
LACHES: I could answer that; but I would not have you cast in my teeth
that I am a haughty Aexonian.
SOCRATES: Do not answer him, Laches; I rather fancy that you are not aware
of the source from which his wisdom is derived. He has got all this from
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas: and all the politicians and selfish worldlings at the Hague.
We have observed that Leyden overflowed with scholars. In
like manner Haarlem was devoted to the gentle pursuits of
peace, -- to music and painting, orchards and avenues,
groves and parks. Haarlem went wild about flowers, and
tulips received their full share of worship.
Haarlem offered prizes for tulip-growing; and this fact
brings us in the most natural manner to that celebration
which the city intended to hold on May 15th, 1673 in honour
of the great black tulip, immaculate and perfect, which
should gain for its discoverer one hundred thousand
The Black Tulip |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: thou thyself shalt be like unto them, and all such as put their
trust in them.
"As for me, I will serve my God, and to him will I wholly
sacrifice myself, to God, the Creator and protector of all things
through our Lord Jesus Christ, my hope, by whom we have access
unto the Father of lights, in the Holy Ghost: by whom we have
been redeemed from bitter slavery by his blood. For if he had
not humbled himself so far as to take the form of a servant, we
had not received the adoption of sons. But he humbled himself
for our sake, not considering the Godhead a thing to be grasped,
but he remained that which he was, and took on himself that which
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