Whether fire or water is most useful (12-13)

And since we have arrived at this point in our argument: What is more profitable to life than Art? And it was fire that discovered and still preserves all the arts. That is why they make Hephaestus the first of artificers. Man has been granted but a little time to live and, as Ariston[*] says, sleep, like a taxcollector, takes away half of that. But I would rather say that it is a question of darkness; for although a man might stay awake all night, yet no good would come of his wakefulness if fire did not give him the benefits of day and remove the difference between day and night.[*] If, then, there is nothing more advantageous to man than life and life is many times increased by fire, how should fire not be the most useful of all things?

And, to be sure, will not that be the most advantageous of which each of the senses has the greatest proportion? Do you not perceive, then, that there is no one of the senses which uses moisture by itself without an admixture of air or fire; and that every sense partakes of fire inasmuch as it supplies the vital energy; and especially that sight, the keenest of the physical senses,[*] is an ignited mass of fire[*] and is that which has made us believe[*] in the gods? And further, through sight, as Plato[*] says, we are able to conform our souls to the movements of the celestial bodies.