| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Intentions by Oscar Wilde: that the day's work may be done. Society often forgives the
criminal; it never forgives the dreamer. The beautiful sterile
emotions that art excites in us are hateful in its eyes, and so
completely are people dominated by the tyranny of this dreadful
social ideal that they are always coming shamelessly up to one at
Private Views and other places that are open to the general public,
and saying in a loud stentorian voice, 'What are you doing?'
whereas 'What are you thinking?' is the only question that any
single civilised being should ever be allowed to whisper to
another. They mean well, no doubt, these honest beaming folk.
Perhaps that is the reason why they are so excessively tedious.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle: Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into
town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose."
"Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long
thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen.
"In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole,
with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is
only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and
I am not easy in my mind about them."
"What can you not understand?"
"Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just
as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and
 The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Mrs. Warren's Profession by George Bernard Shaw: and some paper from the writing-table, and sits down with them at
the middle table, at the end next the fireplace].
FRANK [grimacing] Sorry. [He goes for his cap and rifle. Mrs
Warren returns. He takes her hand] Good-night, dear Mrs Warren.
[He kisses her hand. She snatches it away, her lips tightening,
and looks more than half disposed to box his ears. He laughs
mischievously and runs off, clapping-to the door behind him].
MRS WARREN [resigning herself to an evening of boredom now that
the men are gone] Did you ever in your life hear anyone rattle on
so? Isnt he a tease? [She sits at the table]. Now that I think
of it, dearie, dont you go encouraging him. I'm sure he's a
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