| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Walden by Henry David Thoreau: of regarding the soil as property, or the means of acquiring
property chiefly, the landscape is deformed, husbandry is degraded
with us, and the farmer leads the meanest of lives. He knows Nature
but as a robber. Cato says that the profits of agriculture are
particularly pious or just (maximeque pius quaestus), and according
to Varro the old Romans "called the same earth Mother and Ceres, and
thought that they who cultivated it led a pious and useful life, and
that they alone were left of the race of King Saturn."
We are wont to forget that the sun looks on our cultivated
fields and on the prairies and forests without distinction. They
all reflect and absorb his rays alike, and the former make but a
Walden |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from First Inaugural Address by Abraham Lincoln: that many worthy and patriotic citizens are desirous of having the
national Constitution amended. While I make no recommendation of
amendments, I fully recognize the rightful authority of the people
over the whole subject, to be exercised in either of the modes prescribed
in the instrument itself; and I should, under existing circumstances,
favor rather than oppose a fair opportunity being afforded the people
to act upon it. I will venture to add that to me the convention mode
seems preferable, in that it allows amendments to originate with
the people themselves, instead of only permitting them to take or
reject propositions originated by others not especially chosen
for the purpose, and which might not be precisely such as they would
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Koran: will bring the dead to life by God's permission; and I will tell you
what you eat and what ye store up in your houses. Verily, in that is a
sign for you if ye be believers. And I will confirm what is before you
of the law, and will surely make lawful for you some of that which was
prohibited from you. I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so
fear God and follow me, for God is my Lord, and your Lord, so
worship Him:- this is the right path.'
And when Jesus perceived their unbelief, He said, 'Who are my
helpers for God?' Said the apostles, 'We are God's helpers. We believe
in God, so bear witness that we are resigned. Lord, we have believed
in what Thou hast revealed, and we have followed the Apostle, so write
The Koran |
