The Poisoned Source is a book by Tissaia de Vries which is said to respond to the question of whether individuals are born mages or not, and whether or not mages should reproduce.
Excerpt[ | ]
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“
No one is born a wizard. We still know too little about genetics and the mechanisms of heredity. We sacrifice too little time and means on research. Unfortunately, we constantly try to pass on inherited magical abilities in, so to say, a natural way. Results of these pseudo-experiments can be seen all too often in town gutters and within temple walls. We see too many of them, and too frequently come across morons and women in catatonic state, dribbling seers who soil themselves, seeresses, village oracles and miracle-workers, cretins whose minds are degenerate due to the inherited, uncontrolled Force.
These morons and cretins can also have offspring, can pass on abilities and this degenerate further. Is anyone in a position to foresee or describe how the last link in such a chain will look? Most of us wizards lose the ability to procreate due to somatic changes and dysfunction of the pituitary gland. Some wizards — usually women — attune to magic while still maintaining efficiency of the gonads. They can conceive and give birth — and have the audacity to consider this happiness and a blessing. But I repeat: no one is born a wizard. And no one should be born one! Conscious of the gravity of what I write, I answer the question posed at the Congress in Cidaris. I ask most emphatically: each one of us must decide what she wants to be — a wizard or a mother. I demand all apprentices be sterilised. Without exception.”
— pg(s). 261, Blood of Elves (UK edition)
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In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt[ | ]
| The Poisoned Source | |
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 Read for additional information | |
| Description | |
Inventory/slot |
Books |
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Book |
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Yennefer's room at the New Port Inn |
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24 
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24
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1 – 3
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0 
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Journal entry[ | ]
- No one is born a mage. We still know too little about genetics and the mechanisms of heredity. We devote too little time and resources to this research. Sadly, we still conduct trials in the inheritance of magic ability using, let us say, natural methods. The results of these pseudo-experiments far too often can be seen in the gutters of our cities and begging outside our temple walls. Far too often we see and encounter brain-dead and moronic women, women covered in their own spittle and passing themselves off as prophetesses, seers, village diviners and miracle workers — cretins with brains degenerated by the uncontrolled Power they inherited.
- These simpletons and fools can themselves breed and pass on their "abilities" and continue the degeneration. Is anyone capable of foreseeing or defining what the last link in such a chain will look like?
- Most of us mages lose the ability to procreate as a result of changes and disruptions to the functioning of our pituitary glands. Others — sorceresses, most often — mature into their magic powers with gonads intact. They can conceive and give birth — and have the audacity to consider that good fortune, a blessing. Yet I repeat: no one is born a mage. And no one should be! Aware of the gravity of what I write, I provide an answer to the question posed at the Summit in Cidaris. I answer with every certitude: each of us must decide what she wants to be — a sorceress or a mother.