| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Kwaidan by Lafcadio Hearn: ample meal was set before him; and the girl came from behind the screen, to
serve the wine. She was now reclad, in a rough but cleanly robe of
homespun; and her long, loose hair had been neatly combed and smoothed. As
she bent forward to fill his cup, Tomotada was amazed to perceive that she
was incomparably more beautiful than any woman whom he had ever before
seen; and there was a grace about her every motion that astonished him. But
the elders began to apologize for her, saying: "Sir, our daughter, Aoyagi,
[1] has been brought up here in the mountains, almost alone; and she knows
nothing of gentle service. We pray that you will pardon her stupidity and
her ignorance." Tomotada protested that he deemed himself lucky to be
waited upon by so comely a maiden. He could not turn his eyes away from her
Kwaidan |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne: The Tankadere bore sail admirably, as she drew a great deal of water,
and everything was prepared for high speed in case of a gale.
Mr. Fogg and Aouda descended into the cabin at midnight,
having been already preceded by Fix, who had lain down on one of the cots.
The pilot and crew remained on deck all night.
At sunrise the next day, which was 8th November, the boat had made
more than one hundred miles. The log indicated a mean speed of between
eight and nine miles. The Tankadere still carried all sail,
and was accomplishing her greatest capacity of speed.
If the wind held as it was, the chances would be in her favour.
During the day she kept along the coast, where the currents were favourable;
Around the World in 80 Days |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Art of War by Sun Tzu: split up.]
the next in order is to attack the enemy's army in the field;
[When he is already at full strength.]
and the worst policy of all is to besiege walled cities.
4. The rule is, not to besiege walled cities if it can
possibly be avoided.
[Another sound piece of military theory. Had the Boers
acted upon it in 1899, and refrained from dissipating their
strength before Kimberley, Mafeking, or even Ladysmith, it is
more than probable that they would have been masters of the
situation before the British were ready seriously to oppose
The Art of War |
