| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Euthydemus by Plato: make us happy.
CRITO: Yes; that was the conclusion at which you had arrived, according to
your report of the conversation.
SOCRATES: And does the kingly art make men wise and good?
CRITO: Why not, Socrates?
SOCRATES: What, all men, and in every respect? and teach them all the
arts,--carpentering, and cobbling, and the rest of them?
CRITO: I think not, Socrates.
SOCRATES: But then what is this knowledge, and what are we to do with it?
For it is not the source of any works which are neither good nor evil, and
gives no knowledge, but the knowledge of itself; what then can it be, and
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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 Economist by Xenophon: Isch. I see your purpose. You ask that question with a view to put me
to the test,[18] when you know the answer yourself as well as
possible. You can see with your own eyes[19] that the olive has a
deeper trench dug, planted as it is so commonly by the side of roads.
You can see that all the young plants in the nursery adhere to
stumps.[20] And lastly, you can see that a lump of clay is placed on
the head of every plant,[21] and the portion of the plant above the
soil is protected by a wrapping.[22]
[18] Plat. "Prot." 311 B, 349 C; "Theaet." 157 C: "I cannot make out
whether you are giving your own opinion, or only wanting to draw
me out" (Jowett).
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