| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from De Profundis by Oscar Wilde: amount of suffering that there is in the world. I cannot conceive
of any other explanation. I am convinced that there is no other,
and that if the world has indeed, as I have said, been built of
sorrow, it has been built by the hands of love, because in no other
way could the soul of man, for whom the world was made, reach the
full stature of its perfection. Pleasure for the beautiful body,
but pain for the beautiful soul.
When I say that I am convinced of these things I speak with too
much pride. Far off, like a perfect pearl, one can see the city of
God. It is so wonderful that it seems as if a child could reach it
in a summer's day. And so a child could. But with me and such as
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Inaugural Address by John F. Kennedy: the quest for peace; before the dark powers of destruction unleashed
by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction.
We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient
beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.
But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from
our present course. . .both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons,
both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing
to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of Mankind's
final war.
So let us begin anew. . .remembering on both sides that civility
is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof.
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens: go out in state, you know.'
'Ha ha!' roared the fellow, smiting his leg; 'for a gentleman as
'ull say a pleasant thing in a pleasant way, give me Muster
Gashford agin' all London and Westminster! My lord an't a bad 'un
at that, but he's a fool to you. Ah to be sure,--when I go out in
state.'
'And have your carriage,' said the secretary; 'and your chaplain,
eh? and all the rest of it?'
'You'll be the death of me,' cried Dennis, with another roar, 'you
will. But what's in the wind now, Muster Gashford,' he asked
hoarsely, 'Eh? Are we to be under orders to pull down one of them
Barnaby Rudge |
