| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Reason Discourse by Rene Descartes: much the judgments of our friends are to be suspected when given in our
favor. But I shall endeavor in this discourse to describe the paths I
have followed, and to delineate my life as in a picture, in order that
each one may also be able to judge of them for himself, and that in the
general opinion entertained of them, as gathered from current report, I
myself may have a new help towards instruction to be added to those I have
been in the habit of employing.
My present design, then, is not to teach the method which each ought to
follow for the right conduct of his reason, but solely to describe the way
in which I have endeavored to conduct my own. They who set themselves to
give precepts must of course regard themselves as possessed of greater skill
Reason Discourse |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy: "Don't be alarmed; it was my duty. I can say no more
about it now, but when it is over I will tell you exactly
what I said, and why I said it."
Thomasin was perforce content.
"And you will keep the secret of my would-be marriage
from Clym for the present?" she next asked.
"I have given my word to. But what is the use of it?
He must soon know what has happened. A mere look
at your face will show him that something is wrong."
Thomasin turned and regarded her aunt from the tree.
"Now, hearken to me," she said, her delicate voice expanding
Return of the Native |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from When the Sleeper Wakes by H. G. Wells: And now--I cannot. I am not ready with words.
But about you--there is something. It is Wonder.
Your sleep--your awakening. These things are
miracles. To me at least--and to all the common
people. You who lived and suffered and died, you
who were a common citizen, wake again, live again, to
find yourself Master almost of the earth."
"Master of the earth," he said. "So they tell me.
But try and imagine how little I know of it."
"Cities--Trusts--the Labour Company--"
"Principalities, powers, dominions--the power and
When the Sleeper Wakes |
