| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Essays of Travel by Robert Louis Stevenson: from an upper window.
I heard nothing on board of the tapper; but I was astonished at the
stories told by my companions. Skulking, shirking, malingering, were
all established tactics, it appeared. They could see no dishonesty
where a man who is paid for an bones work gives half an hour's
consistent idling in its place. Thus the tapper would refuse to
watch for the police during a burglary, and call himself a honest
man. It is not sufficiently recognised that our race detests to
work. If I thought that I should have to work every day of my life
as hard as I am working now, I should be tempted to give up the
struggle. And the workman early begins on his career of toil. He
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy: business with him, Levin went back to his study and sat down to
work.
Laska lay under the table; Agafea Mihalovna settled herself in
her place with her stocking.
After writing for a little while, Levin suddenly thought with
exceptional vividness of Kitty, her refusal, and their last
meeting. He got up and began walking about the room.
"What's the use of being dreary?" said Agafea Mihalovna. "Come,
why do you stay on at home? You ought to go to some warm springs,
especially now you're ready for the journey."
"Well, I am going away the day after to-morrow, Agafea Mihalovna;
 Anna Karenina |