ii.] QUALITIES. 75 



science of the present day, neither exaggerating 

 nor under-estimating. 



ENERGY. 



When energy, or the secretion of nervous 

 force, is small, the powers of the man are 

 overtasked by his daily duties, his health gives 

 way, and he is soon weeded out of existence by 

 the process of natural selection ; when moderate, 

 it just suffices for the duties and ordinary amuse- 

 ments of his life : he lives, as it were, up to 

 his income, and has nothing to spare. When it 

 is large, he has a surplus to get rid of, or direct, 

 according to his tastes. It may break out in 

 some illegitimate way, or he may utilise it, 

 perhaps in the pursuit of science. It will be 

 seen that the leading scientific men are generally 

 endowed with great energy ; many of the most 

 successful among them have laboured as earnest 

 amateurs in extra-professional hours, working far 

 into the night. They have climbed the long and 

 steep ascent from the lower to the upper ranks of 

 life ; they have learnt where the opportunities of 



