| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin: inheritance and of reversion. Variability is governed by many unknown
laws, more especially by that of correlation of growth. Something may be
attributed to the direct action of the conditions of life. Something must
be attributed to use and disuse. The final result is thus rendered
infinitely complex. In some cases, I do not doubt that the intercrossing
of species, aboriginally distinct, has played an important part in the
origin of our domestic productions. When in any country several domestic
breeds have once been established, their occasional intercrossing, with the
aid of selection, has, no doubt, largely aided in the formation of new
sub-breeds; but the importance of the crossing of varieties has, I believe,
been greatly exaggerated, both in regard to animals and to those plants
On the Origin of Species |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Mad King by Edgar Rice Burroughs: "Who are you?" asked the man.
"I am Bernard Custer, an American. You were found
beneath my car at the bottom of a ravine. I feel that I owe
you full reparation for the injuries you received, though
it is beyond me how you happened to be found under the
machine. Unless I am truly mad, I was the only occupant
of the roadster when it plunged over the embankment."
"It is very simple," replied the man upon the cot. "I
chanced to be at the bottom of the ravine at the time and
the car fell upon me."
"What were you doing at the bottom of the ravine?" asked
The Mad King |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from 'Twixt Land & Sea by Joseph Conrad: door which faced me as I sat at the head of the table. It was very
much like being mad, only it was worse because one was aware of it.
I had to shake him for a solid minute, but when at last he opened
his eyes it was in the full possession of his senses, with an
inquiring look.
"All's well so far," I whispered. "Now you must vanish into the
bath-room."
He did so, as noiseless as a ghost, and I then rang for the
steward, and facing him boldly, directed him to tidy up my
stateroom while I was having my bath - "and be quick about it." As
my tone admitted of no excuses, he said, "Yes, sir," and ran off to
'Twixt Land & Sea |
