ACTIVE AND LESS IMPASSIONED MAN. 27 



emotional nature is more dominant in one and the 

 intellectual nature in the other. 



I do not in the least aim at detracting from the 

 merits and services of the great leaders of men and 

 causes if, in the following paragraphs, I dwell at some 

 length on the peculiarities of the unemotional tempera- 

 ment in its more extreme forms, and especially in men 

 of average or less than average intellectual power. 



The markedly passionless man, like the woman, is 

 fitful and uncertain in temper and behaviour. He is 

 given, in equal or unequal degrees, to petulance, to 

 fuss, to discontent, and censoriousness. He disap- 

 proves of everything of his own time or his own place. 

 If his bishop has written a notable book the bishop's 

 chaplain collected the material. If a physician puts 

 forward a new healing power the Germans have long 

 been familiar with it. If his neighbours and friends 

 would compare themselves with their fathers and 

 mothers, or if they knew anything of their French 

 or German compeers they would hang their heads 

 with shame. If Goethe and Cromwell had lived in 

 England in the nineteenth century Carlyle would 

 have thought less of them. 



In v all his moods the censorious man is well satisfied 

 with himself. His judgment is often at fault and his 

 projects often fail, but he never ceases to place un- 

 bounded confidence in both. Sydney Smith, speaking 

 of a conspicuous statesman of his time, said he was 

 ready at any moment to command the Channel Fleet or 

 amputate a limb. Much more may be said of the 

 extremely active, self-confident, unemotional man : 

 if he had sunk half a dozen fleets, he would be ready 

 to take command of the seventh ; if he had taken off 

 six limbs and lost six lives, he would be quite ready to 



