Are You More Like Fire or Water?

By: Marie Hullett
Estimated Completion Time
7 min
Are You More Like Fire or Water?
Image: Adelevin / DigitalVision Vectors / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Legends about the once seemingly magical forces of fire and water date back to classical times. The ancient Greeks wrote about Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods to bestow it upon humankind, which ultimately led to the development of civilization. Meanwhile, the Greeks described female water creatures called naiads, which would rule over streams, wells, fountains and other bodies of freshwater. 

Naturally, the Greeks revered both the harnesser of fire and rulers of water, as both resources have played an instrumental role in human survival over the centuries. While one warms our bodies up, the other hydrates us. One can set a building on fire; the other can put it out — or flood the whole block. One can fry, bake and broil our food; the other keeps us clean and healthy. 

Much like yin and yang, both play integral roles in the makeup of the world we live in. In the same way that these elements influence our everyday life, people embody these opposing forces and allow them to manifest in their daily interactions, beliefs and behaviors. As the saying goes, people are products of their environment, so it makes sense that these vital resources influence our way of existence. 

The question is, though, which force of nature are you? A free-flowing creek or a blazing torch? A tsunami or a forest fire? The only way to find out is to take the following quiz. Be warned, though: we haven't watered the questions down at all, so hopefully, you can take the heat. 

Someone you love has just told you the kindest words you've ever heard. How do you react?
My cheeks turn red.
I tear up a little bit with happiness.
My mind goes blank, and I float toward the clouds a little bit.
I smile and say thank you.
It's karaoke night, and naturally, you're going to perform a Beatles hit. Which song will you choose?
"Here Comes the Sun"
"Yellow Submarine"
"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"
"Strawberry Fields Forever"
At work, the person in the cubicle next to yours watches loud YouTube videos all day, which you find very distracting. What do you do?
Rage at them on the daily
Just try to ignore it
Tell my boss
Ask them to please use headphones

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Everyone needs some support from time to time. Which mythical being do you want magical guidance from?
A dragon
A sea sprite
A pegasus
An elf
Lucky you; you're headed off on vacation. Which one of these getaway activities sounds the most appealing?
Hiking around Hawaii's volcanoes
Swimming and snorkeling in Belize
Watching the Northern Lights in Iceland
Exploring Chile's Patagonia forests
Oh no, you arrive at the airport only to find out that your flight's delayed by 24 hours. What do you do?
Yell at the customer service representative
Calmly head home and return tomorrow
Ask if I can fly to another destination instead! Why not switch things up?
Request some sort of compensation or benefits from the airline

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You receive a gift card to a much raved-about restaurant. What will you order?
Seared ahi tuna and a baked potato
Salmon and blanched asparagus
Spinach and gruyere soufflé with a side salad
Roasted butternut squash gnocchi
Which of these desserts would you go for?
Bananas foster
Vanilla ice cream
Creme brûlée
Chocolate mud cake
Pretend that you and a loved one are engaged in a tense argument. Which of these are you most likely to do?
Yell and storm off
Cry
Sigh and ask for forgiveness just to end it
Attempt to arrive at a compromise in a calm and efficient manner

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Now, let's talk about love. How are you in matters of the heart?
I love deeply and intensely. Unfortunately, my passion often seems to fizzle out as quickly as it onsets.
I try not to think about it too much and just go with the flow. When I love someone, I know.
I'm a hopeless romantic, but can't seem to find the right one. For now, I just keep day-dreaming.
Sometimes I think I'm a bit too practical when choosing a partner. I've never experienced that "swept off your feet" kind of passion.
Let's pretend it's Valentine's Day. What do you want to do?
Light some candles, adorn the room with rose petals and enjoy a romantic night in
Enjoy a nighttime sailboat ride
Have a picnic under the stars
Honestly, I just want to treat it like any other day. You shouldn't need a special day to show someone you care.
Since we're talking about relationships, how much would you say you invest in them?
Sometimes my everything; sometimes nothing. It just depends.
I tend to reciprocate what the other person gives.
A lot of time and energy, even when I receive little in return.
Sometimes I get caught up with my work and personal life, but I try to give what I realistically can. Boundaries are important to me.

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In the play "Hamlet," Shakespeare wrote, "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." What do you think about this famous line?
It's so wrong.
I'm indifferent to it.
I like it.
I'm not sure that it's very realistic.
Speaking of your outlook on life, are you a glass half-empty or half-full kind of person?
I'm a pessimist.
I'm an idealist.
I'm an optimist.
I'm a realist.
You're walking along a crowded sidewalk, minding your own business, and — splat! This stranger accidentally bumps into you, spilling their blood-orange smoothie all over your white work shirt. What do you do?
Scream at them until they run away, terrified. At that point, I try to resist the urge to chase them.
Laugh and keep walking
Stare at them in shock for a minute
Tell them it's totally fine and to please not worry about it. Fortunately, there's such a thing as bleach.

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Let's watch a Disney movie! Which one do you want to see?
"Maleficent"
"The Little Mermaid"
"Moana"
"The Jungle Book"
Time to head to an imaginary office. What type of role suits you best?
CEO
IT manager
Creative director
Financial manager
Now that you're at work, you have a major project to tackle — on an extremely tight deadline. How do you handle it?
Procrastinate, panic, then churn everything out with rapid-fire haste
Try to remain calm and just take it one step at a time. I'll get it done eventually.
At first, I brainstorm and nervously flit around from one task to another. Eventually, though, I have a lightbulb moment that guides me through the project's fruition.
Make an incredibly detailed plan and stick to it

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Let's get extreme! Which adventurous activity would you most likely try?
Fire juggling
Deep sea, nighttime scuba diving
Sky diving
High-altitude mountain climbing
You're listening to a long, rambling lecture, and your mind can't help but wander off. Where does it go?
I start stewing about everything I'm angry about right now.
I wonder about deep sea creatures, or aliens, or basically anything in the realm of the strange and unknown.
I daydream about how my life would be in a whole new, fairytale-like world.
I make a mental checklist of everything I need to accomplish today.
Finally, a magical fairy blesses you with a superpower. What is it?
The ability to breathe fire
The ability to breathe underwater
The ability to fly
The ability to communicate with animals

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Oscar Wilde once said that "Life is too important to be taken seriously." What's your perspective on this world?
"Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." - Helen Keller
"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." - Charles R. Swindoll
"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive, and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style." -Maya Angelou
"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated." -Confucius
The weather's heating up, so it's definitely time to enjoy some summertime fun. Which of these activities are you most looking forward to?
Barbecuing and watching fireworks
Going boating
Relaxing in the sunshine
Gardening
Imagine that your sibling reveals something embarrassing about you in front of everyone at a large event. How do you react?
My blood boils and I grab the mic and say something even more embarrassing about them.
I melt into a puddle of embarrassment.
I blush and pretend to be invisible.
I laugh and try to make light of the situation.

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You're going camping by a lake! What's your favorite activity to enjoy in the great outdoors?
Telling stories by the fire
Swimming
Hiking
Observing wildlife
After a long day, you're dying to unwind. What sounds like the most appealing way to do so?
Curl up by the fire
Take a bubble bath
Enjoy a beverage on the back porch
Take a stroll through nature
You decide to book a spa appointment because obviously, you deserve it. Which service do you choose?
Hot stone massage
Flotation therapy
Cryotherapy treatment
Foot massage

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It's never too early to plan your Halloween costume. What do you want to be?
A devil
An abominable snowman
A fairy
Eve from the Garden of Eden
Whether you check your horoscope every day or have never even evaluated your astrological compatibility with someone, what's your sign?
Aries, Leo or Sagittarius
Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces
Libra, Aquarius or Gemini
Capricorn, Taurus or Virgo
Forget Captain America and Thanos. Which lesser-known Marvel Comics character is basically you?
The Human Torch
Namor
Air-Walker
Quake

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You Got: