| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Tao Teh King by Lao-tze: does not call, and yet men come to it of themselves. Its
demonstrations are quiet, and yet its plans are skilful and effective.
The meshes of the net of Heaven are large; far apart, but letting
nothing escape.
74. 1. The people do not fear death; to what purpose is it to (try to)
frighten them with death? If the people were always in awe of death,
and I could always seize those who do wrong, and put them to death,
who would dare to do wrong?
2. There is always One who presides over the infliction death. He who
would inflict death in the room of him who so presides over it may be
described as hewing wood instead of a great carpenter. Seldom is it
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Democracy In America, Volume 1 by Alexis de Toqueville: far more permanent. This is extremely perceptible in the United
States.
In New England the education and the liberties of the
communities were engendered by the moral and religious principles
of their founders. Where society has acquired a sufficient
degree of stability to enable it to hold certain maxims and to
retain fixed habits, the lower orders are accustomed to respect
intellectual superiority and to submit to it without complaint,
although they set at naught all those privileges which wealth and
birth have introduced among mankind. The democracy in New
England consequently makes a more judicious choice than it does
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