| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Memorabilia by Xenophon: than all else, you are bound to render no service, no allegiance? Do
you not know that whilst the state does not concern itself with
ordinary ingratitude or pass judicial sentence on it; whilst it
overlooks the thanklessness of those who fail to make return for
kindly treatment, it reserves its pains and penalties for the special
case? If a man render not the service and allegiance due to his
parents, on him the finger of the law is laid; his name is struck off
the roll; he is forbidden to hold the archonship--which is as much as
to say, "Sacrifices in behalf of the state offered by such a man would
be no offerings, being tainted with impiety; nor could aught else be
'well and justly' performed of which he is the doer." Heaven help us!
The Memorabilia |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Mansion by Henry van Dyke: can
see them and know what they are doing."
"You mean the ones that have a local habitation and a name."
"Yes; they offer by far the safest return, though of course there
is
something gained by contributing to general funds. A public man
can't afford to be without public spirit. But on the whole
I prefer a building, or an endowment. There is a mutual
advantage to
a good name and a good institution in their connection in the
public mind.
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Dust by Mr. And Mrs. Haldeman-Julius: suffering and the high courage had come--nothing. As Rose lay,
the little still form clasped against her, she was too broken for
tears. Life had played her another trick. Indignation toward
Martin gathered volume with her returning strength.
"You don't deserve a child," she told him bitterly. "You might
treat him when he grew up as you treat me."
"I've never laid hand to you," said Martin gruffly, certain
stinging words of Nellie's still smarting. When she chose, his
sister's tongue could be waspish. She had tormented him with it
all the way to her home. He had been goaded into flaring back and
both had been thoroughly angry when they separated, yet he was
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