Then too, that which by multiplication destroys its own contribution is the less useful. Such a thing is fire which, like an all-devouring beast, consumes everything near, so that it is useful rather by skilful handling and craft and moderation in use than by its own nature; but water is never dangerous. Further, of two things the one which may be joined with its fellow is more useful. Now fire does not admit moisture and is of no use when in conjunction with it; but water is of service when combined with fire, for hot water is healing and well adapted to medicinal purposes. A watery fire you will never see; but water is as useful to mankind when hot as when cold. Furthermore, though there are but four elements, Cf. Mor. 948 d above; in 729 b the sea is called the naturally hostile element. water provides from itself a fifth, so to say, the sea, one no less beneficial than the others, especially for commerce among other things. This element, therefore, when our life was savage and unsociable, linked it together and made it complete, redressing defects by mutual assistance and exchange and so bringing about co-operation and friendship. Now Heraclitus Diels-Kranz, Frag. der Vorsok. i. 173, frag. B 99. In Mor. 98 c a fuller and more appropriate version is given; but see now H. Fränkel, Wege und Formen , p. 270 and n. 1. declares, If there were no sun, it would be perpetual night ; in the same way we may say that if there were no sea, man would be the most savage and destitute of all creatures. But as it is, the sea brought the Greeks the vine from India, from Greece transmitted the use of grain across the sea, from Phoenicia imported letters as a memorial against forgetfulness, Cf. Euripides, frag. 578 (p. 542 Nauck). thus preventing the greater part of mankind from being wineless, grainless, and unlettered. How, then, should water not be more useful when it has the advantage over fire of one more element? For this delightful absurdity see Sandbach, op. cit. p. 199, n. 4.