206 HOW OBEDIENCE IS TAUGHT 



succeeds in breaking the rope to which he is tethe- 

 red, he always wishes and seeks to break it. If he 

 sees that he cannot break it, he acquires the idea 

 of a greater power, of resignation to it, and no 

 longer thinks of breaking it nor attempts it any 

 more, having seen that he could not break it. If 

 we tether him to a fixed and unyielding point and 

 he desires to go away, and sees that he cannot, 

 and if we are near to tranquillize him by a soo- 

 thing woice, he associates with us his being unable 

 to go away, acquires the idea that he cannot go 

 away because we do not wish it, accepts the idea 

 of being unable to go away and resigns himself to 

 standing still at our mere signal to stop and stand 

 still. 



Showing him our superiority by punishments 

 should be the matter of a moment only, and after 

 his confidence has been acquired so that he should 

 not be brought to believe that we are his enemies 

 and should not think it therefore necessary to de- 

 fend himself from us, believing his life to be in 

 danger. When first we are together with him he 

 should always be given pleasant associations. If in 



