| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | Numbers. | | |
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Pythagoras looked on numbers as influential principles. | 1 |
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1 is Unity, and represents Deity, which has no parts. | 2 |
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2 is Diversity, and therefore disorder. The principle of strife and all evil. | 3 |
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3 is Perfect Harmony, or the union of unity and diversity. | 4 |
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4 is Perfection. It is the first square (2 x 2 = 4). | 5 |
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5 is the prevailing number in Nature and Art. | 6 |
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6 is Justice (Perfect Harmony being 3, which multiplied by Trinity = 6). | 7 |
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7 is the climacteric number in all diseases. Called the Medical Number (2 syl.). | 8 |
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2. The Romans dedicated the second month to Pluto, and the second day of the month to the Manes. They believed it to be the most fatal number of all. |
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 4 and 6 are omitted, not being prime numbers; 4 is the multiple of 2, and 6 is the multiple of 3. |
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