CHAPTER IX. 

 EVIDENCE AND EXAMPLES Continued. 



ALMOST all leaders of inert and movements are 

 energetic, unquestioning, self-confident men, men not 

 disturbed by emotional tumult. In the thought and 

 construction of movements, less conspicuous, less con- 

 fident natures play an important part. Where then shall 

 we discover the markedly reflective, the passionately 

 brooding natures, save where it is natural we should 

 find them, where contemplation and passion and crea- 

 tion find their natural outlet in poetry and fiction. 

 It is not a little significant that the most impassioned 

 poets and novelists have a special combination of 

 skeleton and skin and hair-growth, with as I believe a 

 special and allied nervous organisation, quite different 

 from that of the great names of literature outside their 

 circle, who are for the most part of the active tem- 

 perament. Near to each other in time were the less 

 impassioned Voltaire and the more impassioned Goethe. 

 Neither were of the extreme variety, but Voltaire's 

 bodily characteristics clearly tended to be of one sort, 

 and Goethe's as clearly of another. Both were im- 

 mensely capable, observant, reasoning; but Voltaire's 

 bias was to wit, banter, to an activity verging on 

 bustle. His emotional nature was not deep ; Goethe 

 had more of reverie, creation, and passion. Dr. Johnson 

 was an extreme example of the unemotional and active 

 type, both in genuis and in body. He was always alert 

 and troubled by no pensive hesitation. Carlyle devotes 



