on of the Law, a
truth embodied in the maxim, that "Every Creation carries its own
mathematics along with it." If the reader remembers what I have said in
the chapter of "The Soul of the Subject," he will see that the
principle involved, is that of the susceptibility of the Impersonal to
suggestions from the Personal. This follows of course from the very
Conception of Impersonality; it is that which has no power of selection
and volition, and which is therefore without any power of taking an
initiative on its own account.

In a previous chapter I have pointed out that the only possible
conception of the inauguration of a world-system, resolves itself into
the recognition of one original and universal Substantive Life, out of
which proceeds a corresponding Verb, or active energy, reproducing in
action what the Substantive is in essence. On the other hand there must
be something for this active principle to work in; and since there can
be nothing anterior to the Universal Life or Energy, both these factors
must be potentially contained in it. If, then, we represent this Eternal
Substantive Life by a circle with a dot in the centre, we may represent
these two principles as emerging from it by placing two circles at equal
distance below it, one on either side, and placing the sign "+" (plus)
in one, and the sign "-" (minus) in the other. This is how students of
these subjects usually map out the relation of the _prima principia_,
or first abstract principles. The sign "+" (plus) indicates the Active
principle, and the sign "-" (minus) the Passive principle. If the reader
will draw a little diagram as described, it will help to make what
follows clearer.

Necessarily the initiative must be taken by the Active principle; and
the taking of initiative implies selection and volition, that is to say,
the essential qualities of personality; and Passivity implies the
converse of all this, and therefore is Impersonality. The two principles
in no way conflict with one another, but are polar opposites, like the
positive and negative plates of a battery, or the two ends of a magnet.
They are complementary to one another, and neither can work without the
other. A little consideration will show that this is not a mere fancy,
but a self-obvious generalization, the contrary to which it is
impossible to conceive. It is simply the case of the box which cannot
come into existence without the activity of the carpenter and the
passivity of th