Book 11

           1.Characteristicsoftherationalsoul:

           Self-perception,self-examination,andthepowertomakeofitselfwhateveritwants.

           Itreapsitsownharvest,unlikeplants(and,inadifferentway,animals),whoseyieldisgatheredinbyothers.

           Itreachesitsintendedgoal,nomatterwherethelimitofitslifeisset.Notlikedancingandtheaterandthingslikethat,wheretheperformanceisincompleteifit’sbrokenoffinthemiddle,butatanypoint—nomatterwhichoneyoupick—ithasfulfilleditsmission,doneitsworkcompletely.Sothatitcansay,"IhavewhatIcamefor."

           Itsurveystheworldandtheemptyspacearoundit,andthewayit’sputtogether.Itdelvesintotheendlessnessoftimetoextenditsgraspandcomprehensionoftheperiodicbirthsandrebirthsthattheworldgoesthrough.Itknowsthatthosewhocomeafteruswillseenothingdifferent,thatthosewhocamebeforeussawnomorethanwedo,andthatanyonewithfortyyearsbehindhimandeyesinhisheadhasseenbothpastandfuture—bothalike.

           Alsocharacteristicoftherationalsoul:

           Affectionforitsneighbors.Truthfulness.Humility.Nottoplaceanythingaboveitself—whichischaracteristicoflawaswell.Nodifferenceherebetweenthelogosofrationalityandthatofjustice.

           2.