6 ORIGIN AND NATURE OF THE INQUIRY. 



intermediate class may also be placed the characters 

 which tend to eccentricity or in which other, possibly 

 abnormal, tendencies predominate over the emotional 

 and non-emotional. 



It is not at all unusual to hear the expressions "a 

 man of action/' or "a, man of thought/' but usually 

 little definite and precise meaning is attached to the 

 words, and they are never used in relation to nerve or 

 bodily organisation. In these pages a deeper sig- 

 nificance is given to the view that some men tend 

 more to action and others more to contemplation. 

 ^ Probably the most important classification of cha- 

 racter is that which puts men and women into two 

 leading divisions or two temperaments the active or 

 tending to be active, and the reflective or bending to 

 be reflective. To many students of character this is in 

 itself no new suggestion ; but much more is contended 

 for here. It is contended that the more active 

 temperament is quick, ready, practical, helpful, 

 conspicuous, and a singularly notable fact less 

 impassioned ; the more reflective temperament is 

 quiet, less active, less practical, possibly dreamy, 

 secluded, and also a very remarkable fact more 

 impassioned. In the active and more or less passion- 

 less temperament the intellect predominates and takes 

 an unusually large share in the fashioning of life. 

 In the reflective and impassioned temperament the 

 emotions play a stronger part. 



The elements of character are not a chance and mis- 

 cellaneous collection they run together in somewhat 

 uniform groups. The less impassioned individuals, 

 for example, are not merely active, quick, practical 

 they tend also to be changeable, fond of approbation, 

 though sparing in their approval of others ; they are 



