| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Louis Lambert by Honore de Balzac: was a new conception of humanity under a new form.
This brief sketch of the laws which, as Lambert maintained, constitute
the formula of our intellect, must suffice to give a notion of the
prodigious activity of his spirit feeding on itself. Louis had sought
for proofs of his theories in the history of great men, whose lives,
as set forth by their biographers, supply very curious particulars as
to the operation of their understanding. His memory allowed him to
recall such facts as might serve to support his statements; he had
appended them to each chapter in the form of demonstrations, so as to
give to many of his theories an almost mathematical certainty. The
works of Cardan, a man gifted with singular powers of insight,
Louis Lambert |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals by Charles Darwin: as to account for a fixed and associated habit having thus arisen.
It seems more probable, assuming that Gratiolet's statement
is correct, that the brain is directly affected by the powerful
emotion of fear and reacts on the pupils; but Professor Donders
informs me that this is an extremely complicated subject.
I may add, as possibly throwing light on the subject, that Dr. Fyffe,
of Netley Hospital, has observed in two patients that the pupils
were distinctly dilated during the cold stage of an ague fit.
Professor Donders has also often seen dilatation of the pupils
in incipient faintness.
[24] `De la Physionomie,' pp. 51, 256, 346.
Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Love and Friendship by Jane Austen: Dorothea. Imagine my surprise at finding myself thus seated
amongst my old Acquaintance. Great as was my astonishment, it
was yet increased, when on looking out of Windows, I beheld the
Husband of Philippa, with Philippa by his side, on the Coachbox
and when on looking behind I beheld, Philander and Gustavus in
the Basket. "Oh! Heavens, (exclaimed I) is it possible that I
should so unexpectedly be surrounded by my nearest Relations and
Connections?" These words roused the rest of the Party, and
every eye was directed to the corner in which I sat. "Oh! my
Isabel (continued I throwing myself across Lady Dorothea into her
arms) receive once more to your Bosom the unfortunate Laura.
Love and Friendship |
