| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Democracy In America, Volume 2 by Alexis de Toqueville: attachment; it is enough that, as servants, they are exact and
honest. It would not then be true to assert that, in democratic
society, the relation of servants and masters is disorganized: it
is organized on another footing; the rule is different, but there
is a rule.
It is not my purpose to inquire whether the new state of
things which I have just described is inferior to that which
preceded it, or simply different. Enough for me that it is fixed
and determined: for what is most important to meet with among men
is not any given ordering, but order. But what shall I say of
those sad and troubled times at which equality is established in
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia by Samuel Johnson: his history, and to tell by what accident he was forced, or by what
motive induced, to close his life in the Happy Valley. As he was
going to begin his narrative, Rasselas was called to a concert, and
obliged to restrain his curiosity till the evening.
CHAPTER VIII - THE HISTORY OF IMLAC.
THE close of the day is, in the regions of the torrid zone, the
only season of diversion and entertainment, and it was therefore
midnight before the music ceased and the princesses retired.
Rasselas then called for his companion, and required him to begin
the story of his life.
"Sir," said Imlac, "my history will not be long: the life that is
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Love and Friendship by Jane Austen: vex me in the least; though perhaps I may suffer most from it
after all; for I shall not only be obliged to eat up all the
Victuals I have dressed already, but must if Henry should recover
(which however is not very likely) dress as much for you again;
or should he die (as I suppose he will) I shall still have to
prepare a Dinner for you whenever you marry any one else. So you
see that tho' perhaps for the present it may afflict you to think
of Henry's sufferings, Yet I dare say he'll die soon, and then
his pain will be over and you will be easy, whereas my Trouble
will last much longer for work as hard as I may, I am certain
that the pantry cannot be cleared in less than a fortnight." Thus
Love and Friendship |
