d that such men have a certain
peculiar aptitude for War, on account of their constant equanimity.
They often want the positive motive to action, impulse, and consequently
activity, but they are not apt to throw things into disorder.

The peculiarity of the second class is that they are easily excited
to act on trifling grounds, but in great matters they are easily
overwhelmed. Men of this kind show great activity in helping an
unfortunate individual, but by the distress of a whole Nation they are
only inclined to despond, not roused to action.

Such people are not deficient in either activity or equanimity in
War; but they will never accomplish anything great unless a great
intellectual force furnishes the motive, and it is very seldom that a
strong, independent mind is combined with such a character.

Excitable, inflammable feelings are in themselves little suited for
practical life, and therefore they are not very fit for War. They have
certainly the advantage of strong impulses, but that cannot long sustain
them. At the same time, if the excitability in such men takes the
direction of courage, or a sense of honour, they may often be very
useful in inferior positions in War, because the action in War over
which commanders in inferior positions have control is generally of
shorter duration. Here one courageous resolution, one effervescence
of the forces of the soul, will often suffice. A brave attack, a
soul-stirring hurrah, is the work of a few moments, whilst a brave
contest on the battle-field is the work of a day, and a campaign the
work of a year.

Owing to the rapid movement of their feelings, it is doubly difficult
for men of this description to preserve equilibrium of the mind;
therefore they frequently lose head, and that is the worst phase in
their nature as respects the conduct of War. But it would be contrary to
experience to maintain that very excitable spirits can never preserve
a steady equilibrium--that is to say, that they cannot do so even under
the strongest excitement. Why should they not have the sentiment of
self-respect, for, as a rule, they are men of a noble nature? This
feeling is seldom wanting in them, but it has not time to produce an
effect. After an outburst they suffer most from a feeling of inward
humiliation. If through education, self-observance, and experience of
life, they have learned, sooner or later, the means of being on their
guard, so that at the moment of powerful excite