32 THE PRINCIPLE OF Chap. I. 



to put on gloves, knows that this is by no means the 

 case. 



When our minds are much affected, so are the move- 

 ments of our bodies; but here another principle be- 

 sides habit, namely the undirected overflow of nerve- 

 force, partially comes into play. Norfolk, in speaking 

 of Cardinal Wolsey, says — 



" Some strange commotion 

 Is in his brain; he bites his lip and starts; 

 Stops on a sudden, looks upon the ground, 

 Then, lays his finger on his temple: straight, 

 Springs out into fast gait; then, stops again, 

 Strikes his breast hard; and anon, he casts 

 His eye against the moon: in most strange postures 

 We have seen him set himself." — Hen. VIII., act 3, sc. 2. 



A vulgar man often scratches his head when per- 

 plexed in mind; and I believe that he acts thus from 

 habit, as if he experienced a slightly uncomfortable 

 bodily sensation, namely, the itching of his head, to 

 which he is particularly liable, and which he thus re- 

 lieves. Another man rubs his eyes when perplexed, or 

 gives a little cough when embarrassed, acting in either 

 case as if he felt a slightly uncomfortable sensation in 

 his eyes or windpipe. 6 



From the continued use of the eyes, these organs 

 are especially liable to be acted on through association 

 under various states of the mind, although there is mani- 

 festly nothing to be seen. A man, as Gratiolet remarks, 

 who vehemently rejects a proposition, will almost cer- 

 tainly shut his eyes or turn away his face; but if he 

 accepts the proposition, he will nod his head in affirma- 

 tion and open his eyes widely. The man acts in this 



6 Gratiolet (' De la Physionomie,' p. 324), in his discus- 

 sion on this subject, gives many analogous instances. 

 See p. 42, on the opening and shutting of the eyes. Engel 

 is quoted (p. 323) on the changed paces of a man, as his 

 thoughts change. 



