Memory and Imagination had a discussion as to which was the greater.
"Without me," said Memory, "your buildings, your fine castles, would all
go down. I alone give you power to retain them."
"Without me," said Imagination, "there would be no use of retaining
them, for, indeed, they wouldn't be there. I am the great builder."
"And I the great recorder."
"It appears, then, that no one of us is greater than the other. Yet I
would not change places with you."
"Why not?" said Memory.
"Because," replied Imagination, "without you I can still keep on
creating over and over."
At the end of a year Memory came back.
"What have you done?" asked Memory.
"Nothing," said Imagination.
"And you were wrong when you said that without me you could still go on
creating."
"Yes. I did not realize how dependent I was upon you. What have you been
doing during the year?"
"Reviewing some old friends. That was all I could do."
"Then we are practically equal."
"Yes. Let us live together hereafter in harmony, carrying on our door
this legend:
There is no Memory without
Imagination,
And no Imagination without
Memory."