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these. The approximations are forced in every instance and often ludicrous. Instead of attempting to give a psychological analysis of the qualities in question, he lays stress on their physical basis in one of the five senses, as we shall see presently.
The great world, we are told, was created out of the four elements, and similarly man, the microcosm, also consists of four natures corre- sponding to the elements. Thus the four humors, upon the harmonious combination of which the health of man's body depends, viz., blood, phelgm, black gall, and red gall, correspond respectively to air, water, earth, fire. Man is endowed besides with five senses. If he is wise he will use his senses properly and in the right measure, like a skilful physician who calculates carefully what proportion of each drug should be prescribed.
The sense of sight is the noblest of the senses, and is related to the body as the sun to the world. The philosophers have a wonderful saying concerning the eye that there are spiritual tints in the soul which are visible in the movements of the eyelids-pride and haugh- tiness, humility and meekness. Accordingly the ethical qualities due to the sense of sight are pride, meekness, modesty and impu- dence, besides the subordinate qualities derived from these. Pride is common in a person of a warm disposition in whom the red gall predominates. Many wise men exhibit this quality out of place, fools adopt it until they are mastered by it, and it is prevalent in youth. It may be useful when it keeps a man away from vice and unworthy things, inspiring him to rise to nobility of character and the service of God. But generally it is useless and leads to many evils, especially if it causes one to be self-opinionated, refusing to seek the advice of anyone. When a man sees this quality gaining mastery over him, he should consider the origin and end of existing things. When he sees that all things are destined to pass away, and himself likewise, his pride will change to humility.
Meekness is closer to virtue than the quality mentioned before, because he who possesses it withholds his desire from seeking grati- fication. It is a quality manifested by the prophets and leads to honor. "The fruits of lowliness," a philosopher has said, “are love and tranquillity." Contentment is of a kind with meekness. The greatest riches are contentment and patience. He who esteems his rank but