| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: changed his arm a little, and once he kissed her dark shining hair. The
afternoon had made them tranquil for a while, as if to give them a deep
memory for the long parting the next day promised. They had never been
closer in their month of love, nor communicated more profoundly one
with another, than when she brushed silent lips against his coat's
shoulder or when he touched the end of her fingers, gently, as though
she were asleep.
He did extraordinarily well in the war. He was a captain before he went
to the front, and following the Argonne battles he got his majority and
the command of the divisional machine-guns. After the Armistice he
tried frantically to get home, but some complication or
The Great Gatsby |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Phaedrus by Plato: lay a finger upon his love! And so, Phaedrus, you really imagine that I am
going to improve upon the ingenuity of Lysias?
PHAEDRUS: There I have you as you had me, and you must just speak 'as you
best can.' Do not let us exchange 'tu quoque' as in a farce, or compel me
to say to you as you said to me, 'I know Socrates as well as I know myself,
and he was wanting to speak, but he gave himself airs.' Rather I would
have you consider that from this place we stir not until you have unbosomed
yourself of the speech; for here are we all alone, and I am stronger,
remember, and younger than you:--Wherefore perpend, and do not compel me to
use violence.
SOCRATES: But, my sweet Phaedrus, how ridiculous it would be of me to
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy: without looking at him, and blushing, while her face grew still
more stern.
"I have come to ask you to forgive me," he said, in a loud but
monotonous voice, like a lesson learnt by heart. Having said
these words he became confused; but immediately came the thought
that, if he felt ashamed, it was all the better; he had to bear
this shame, and he continued in a loud voice:
"Forgive me; I have wronged you terribly."
She stood motionless and without taking her squinting eyes off
him.
He could not continue to speak, and stepping away from the net he
Resurrection |
