| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Father Goriot by Honore de Balzac: love. Then I chanced to meet my cousin, and to see my cousin's
heart from very near; I have divined the inexhaustible treasures
of passion, and, like Cherubino, I am the lover of all women,
until the day comes when I find THE woman to whom I may devote
myself. As soon as I saw you, as soon as I came into the theatre
this evening, I felt myself borne towards you as if by the
current of a stream. I had so often thought of you already, but I
had never dreamed that you would be so beautiful! Mme. de
Beauseant told me that I must not look so much at you. She does
not know the charm of your red lips, your fair face, nor see how
soft your eyes are. . . . I also am beginning to talk nonsense;
Father Goriot |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Pivot of Civilization by Margaret Sanger: conditions of child-bearing, degraded far below the level of primitive
and barbarian tribes, nay, even below the plane of brutes, that many
high-minded people, confronted with such revolting and disgraceful
facts, lost that calmness of vision and impartiality of judgment so
necessary in any serious consideration of this vital problem. Their
``hearts'' are touched; they become hysterical; they demand immediate
action; and enthusiastically and generously they support the first
superficial program that is advanced. Immediate action may sometimes
be worse than no action at all. The ``warm heart'' needs the balance
of the cool head. Much harm has been done in the world by those too-
good-hearted folk who have always demanded that ``something be done at
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