8 SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTS 



and too vast to have enabled him to obtain pre- 

 eminence in any one science ; or rather, he was 

 so equally eminent in all, that his true greatness 

 seemed to be accepted rather than critically 

 understood in the world. Perfect symmetry 

 never produces the effect of vastness ; and this 

 was the case with Humboldt. With, perhaps, 

 the exception of Aristotle and Bacon, no man 

 ever stood forward so prominently as the repre- 

 sentative of the aggregate knowledge of his 

 age. And it was impossible to estimate the 

 influence he wielded in advancing the sciences, 

 not only directly, but indirectly, in the impulse 

 he had given to other minds, in aiding by his 

 counsel and his means those who were strug- 

 gling against difficulties. Never was a man 

 less exalted by his own individual achievements ; 

 never was there a teacher so eager to be taught 

 in turn; never a mind so humble under its 

 wonderful weight of knowledge. From my 

 own personal impression, as well as from a 

 study of his works, I would venture to guess 

 the motives of that vital inspiration which gave 

 shape to his life ; to go behind what he accom- 

 plished, and speculate on what he designed; 

 for common minds only work out their ideas ; 

 great minds look to a goal which they can 

 never reach. All the labours of Humboldt's 



