| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Eryxias by Platonic Imitator: vice for virtue?
CRITIAS: Never.
SOCRATES: And yet we have already agreed--have we not?--that there can be
no knowledge where there has not previously been ignorance, nor health
where there has not been disease, nor virtue where there has not been vice?
CRITIAS: I think that we have.
SOCRATES: But then it would seem that the antecedents without which a
thing cannot exist are not necessarily useful to it. Otherwise ignorance
would appear useful for knowledge, disease for health, and vice for virtue.
Critias still showed great reluctance to accept any argument which went to
prove that all these things were useless. I saw that it was as difficult
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Commission in Lunacy by Honore de Balzac: affairs of the country, and doing such service as is not soon
forgotten. While purifying the past record of my family, I have
insured it a glorious future; and is not that to have achieved a noble
task, though in secret and without glory?--And now, monsieur, have you
any other explanations to ask me?"
At this instant the tramp of horses was heard in the courtyard.
"Here they are!" said the Marquis. In a moment the two lads,
fashionably but plainly dressed, came into the room, booted, spurred,
and gloved, and flourishing their riding-whips. Their beaming faces
brought in the freshness of the outer air; they were brilliant with
health. They both grasped their father's hand, giving him a look, as
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