| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Hiero by Xenophon: get far more in far less time by murdering the despot than they can
hope to earn by lengthened service in protecting him.
[10] Or, "beyond the sentinels themselves is set the outpost of the
laws, who watch the watch."
[11] Or, "ten-day labourers in harvest-time."
[12] Or, "but to discover one single faithful man is far more
difficult than scores of labourers in any field of work you
please."
[13] Or, "are merely hirelings for filthy lucre's sake."
And as to that which roused your envy--our ability, as you call it, to
benefit our friends most largely, and beyond all else, to triumph over
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Faraday as a Discoverer by John Tyndall: in my table of refractive indices in my article "Light,"
Encyclopaedia Metropolitana). It was, however, too soft for optical
use as an object-glass. This Faraday overcame, at least to a
considerable degree, by the introduction of silica.'
[5] Regarding Anderson, Faraday writes thus in 1845:--'I cannot
resist the occasion that is thus offered to me of mentioning the
name of Mr. Anderson, who came to me as an assistant in the glass
experiments, and has remained ever since in the laboratory of the
Royal Institution. He assisted me in all the researches into which
I have entered since that time; and to his care, steadiness,
exactitude, and faithfulness in the performance of all that has been
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Oscar Wilde Miscellaneous by Oscar Wilde: Most pitiful being just. As for myself. . .
GUIDO. Oh! help me, sweet Bianca! help me, Bianca,
Thou knowest I am innocent of harm.
SIMONE. What, is there life yet in those lying lips?
Die like a dog with lolling tongue! Die! Die!
And the dumb river shall receive your corse
And wash it all unheeded to the sea.
GUIDO. Lord Christ receive my wretched soul to-night!
SIMONE. Amen to that. Now for the other.
[He dies. Simone rises and looks at Bianca. She comes towards him
as one dazed with wonder and with outstretched arms.]
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The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche: brotherly love--it will have difficulty IN CONCEALING ITS IRONY!
263. There is an INSTINCT FOR RANK, which more than anything else
is already the sign of a HIGH rank; there is a DELIGHT in the
NUANCES of reverence which leads one to infer noble origin and
habits. The refinement, goodness, and loftiness of a soul are put
to a perilous test when something passes by that is of the
highest rank, but is not yet protected by the awe of authority
from obtrusive touches and incivilities: something that goes its
way like a living touchstone, undistinguished, undiscovered, and
tentative, perhaps voluntarily veiled and disguised. He whose
task and practice it is to investigate souls, will avail himself
Beyond Good and Evil |
