| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Pagan and Christian Creeds by Edward Carpenter: the scum and dregs created by the past order, all point to
the End of a Dispensation. Protestantism and Commercialism,
in the two fields of religion and daily life
have, as I have indicated before, been occupied in concentrating
the mind of each man solely on his OWN welfare,
the salvation of his OWN soul or body. These two forces
have therefore been disruptive to the last degree; they mark
the culmination of the Self-conscious Age--a culmination in
War, Greed, Materialism, and the general principle of Devil-
take-the-hindmost--and the clearing of the ground for the
new order which is to come. So there is hope for
Pagan and Christian Creeds |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Sophist by Plato: SOCRATES: Is he not rather a god, Theodorus, who comes to us in the
disguise of a stranger? For Homer says that all the gods, and especially
the god of strangers, are companions of the meek and just, and visit the
good and evil among men. And may not your companion be one of those higher
powers, a cross-examining deity, who has come to spy out our weakness in
argument, and to cross-examine us?
THEODORUS: Nay, Socrates, he is not one of the disputatious sort--he is
too good for that. And, in my opinion, he is not a god at all; but divine
he certainly is, for this is a title which I should give to all
philosophers.
SOCRATES: Capital, my friend! and I may add that they are almost as hard
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith: he refuses, instead of breaking my heart at his indifference, I'll only
break my glass for its flattery, set my cap to some newer fashion, and
look out for some less difficult admirer.
HARDCASTLE. Bravely resolved! In the mean time I'll go prepare the
servants for his reception: as we seldom see company, they want as much
training as a company of recruits the first day's muster. [Exit.]
MISS HARDCASTLE. (Alone). Lud, this news of papa's puts me all in a
flutter. Young, handsome: these he put last; but I put them foremost.
Sensible, good-natured; I like all that. But then reserved and
sheepish; that's much against him. Yet can't he be cured of his
timidity, by being taught to be proud of his wife? Yes, and can't
She Stoops to Conquer |
