rave and
genial, altruistic and earnest, in spite of it all, by _willing_ away
his Timidity.

I have not assumed a high philosophical or metaphysical position in
this work; my efforts have been confined to indicating how by a very
simple and well-nigh mechanical process, perfectly intelligible to
every human being with an intellect, one may induce certain states of
mind and thereby create a Will. But I quite agree with Mr. FLETCHER
that Forethought is strong thought, and the point from which all
projects must proceed. As I understand it, it is a kind of impulse or
projection of will into the coming work. I may here illustrate this
with a curious fact in physics. If the reader wished to ring a
door-bell so as to produce as much sound as possible he would probably
pull it as far back as he could and then let it go. But if he would in
letting it go simply give it a tap with his forefinger he would
actually redouble the noise.

Or, to shoot an arrow as far as possible, it is not enough to merely
draw the bow to its utmost span or tension. If just as it goes you
will give the bow a quick _push_, though the effort be trifling, the
arrow will fly almost as far again as it would have done without it.

Or, if, as is well known, in wielding a very sharp saber, we make the
_draw-cut_, that is if we add to the blow or chop, as with an axe, a
certain slight pull and simultaneously, we can cut through a silk
handkerchief or a sheep.

Forethought is the tap on the bell, the push of the bow, the draw on
the saber. It is the deliberate yet rapid action of the mind when
before falling to sleep or dismissing thought we _bid_ the mind to
subsequently respond. It is more than merely thinking what we are to
do; it is the bidding or ordering self to fulfill a task before
willing it.

Forethought in the senses employed or implied as here described means
much more than mere previous consideration or reflection, which may be
very feeble. It is, in fact, "constructive," which, as inventive,
implies _active_ thought. "Forethought stimulates, aids the success of
honest aims." Therefore, as the active principle in mental work, I
regard it as a kind of self-impulse, or that minor part in the
division of the force employed which sets the major into action. Now,
if we really understand this and can succeed in employing Forethought
as the preparation for, and impulse to, Self-Suggestion, we shall
greatly aid the success of the latter, because the