| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Research Magnificent by H. G. Wells: elemental facts of a great social organization. It was having its
South African war, its war at the other end of the earth, with a
certain defeat instead of a dubious victory. . . .
"There is far more freedom for the personal life in Russia than in
England," said Prothero, a little irrelevantly.
Benham went on with his discourse about Russia. . . .
"At the college of Troitzka," said Prothero, "which I understand is
a kind of monster Trinity unencumbered by a University, Binns tells
me that although there is a profession of celibacy within the walls,
the arrangements of the town and more particularly of the various
hotels are conceived in a spirit of extreme liberality."
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Protagoras by Plato: shorter forms of speech as well as in longer, for you are a master of
wisdom; but I cannot manage these long speeches: I only wish that I could.
You, on the other hand, who are capable of either, ought to speak shorter
as I beg you, and then we might converse. But I see that you are
disinclined, and as I have an engagement which will prevent my staying to
hear you at greater length (for I have to be in another place), I will
depart; although I should have liked to have heard you.
Thus I spoke, and was rising from my seat, when Callias seized me by the
right hand, and in his left hand caught hold of this old cloak of mine. He
said: We cannot let you go, Socrates, for if you leave us there will be an
end of our discussions: I must therefore beg you to remain, as there is
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Alexander's Bridge by Willa Cather: "Here's a note from old Wilson. He's safe
back at his grind, and says he had a bully time.
`The memory of Mrs. Bartley will make my
whole winter fragrant.' Just like him.
He will go on getting measureless satisfaction
out of you by his study fire. What a man he is
for looking on at life!" Bartley sighed,
pushed the letters back impatiently,
and went over to the window. "This is a
nasty sort of day to sail. I've a notion to
call it off. Next week would be time enough."
Alexander's Bridge |
