| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Charmides by Plato: friends. For is not the discovery of things as they truly are, a good
common to all mankind?
Yes, certainly, Socrates, he said.
Then, I said, be cheerful, sweet sir, and give your opinion in answer to
the question which I asked, never minding whether Critias or Socrates is
the person refuted; attend only to the argument, and see what will come of
the refutation.
I think that you are right, he replied; and I will do as you say.
Tell me, then, I said, what you mean to affirm about wisdom.
I mean to say that wisdom is the only science which is the science of
itself as well as of the other sciences.
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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 Wife, et al by Anton Chekhov: my behaviour, and I walked round my uncle and, following the
ceremonial laid down for me, I continued making low bows. Then my
mother began throwing out hints that with my remarkable abilities
it would not be amiss for me to get a government nomination to
the cadet school; but at the point when I was to have burst into
tears and begged for my uncle's protection, my uncle suddenly
stopped and flung up his hands in amazement.
"My goo-oodness! What's that?" he asked.
Tatyana Ivanovna, the wife of our bailiff, Fyodor Petrovna, was
coming towards us. She was carrying a starched white petticoat
and a long ironing-board. As she passed us she looked shyly at
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