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considers that he is not sufficiently disguised。 In the inn at
Calade； 〃he starts and changes color at the slightest noise〃； the
commissaries； who repeatedly enter his room； 〃find him always in
tears。〃 〃He wearies them with his anxieties and irresolution〃； he says
that the French government would like to have him assassinated on the
road； refuses to eat for fear of poison； and thinks that he might
escape by jumping out of the window。 And yet he gives vent to his
feelings and lets his tongue run on about himself without stopping；
concerning his past； his character； unreservedly； indelicately；
trivially； like a cynic and one who is half…crazy； his ideas run loose
and crowd each other like the anarchical gatherings of a tumultuous
mob； he does not recover his mastery of them until he reaches Fréjus；
the end of his journey； where he feels himself safe and protected from
any highway assault； then only do they return within ordinary limits
and fall back in regular line under the control of the sovereign
intellect which； after sinking for a time； revives and resumes its
ascendancy。 … There is nothing in him so extraordinary as this almost
perpetual domination of the lucid； calculating reason； his willpower
is still more formidable than his intelligence； before it can obtain
the mastery of others it must be master at home。 To measure its
power； it does not suffice to note its fascinations； to enumerate the
millions of souls it captivates； to estimate the vastness of the
obstacles it overcomes： we must again； and especially； represent to
ourselves the energy and depth of the passions it keeps in check and
urges on like a team of prancing； rearing horses … it is the driver
who； bracing his arms； constantly restrains the almost ungovernable
steeds； who controls their excitement； who regulates their bounds； who
takes advantage even of their viciousness to guide his noisy vehicle
over precipices as it rushes on with thundering speed。 If the pure
ideas of the reasoning brain thus maintain their daily supremacy it is
due to the vital flow which nourishes them； their roots are deep in
his heart and temperament； and those roots which give them their
vigorous sap constitute a primordial instinct more powerful than
intellect； more powerful even than his will； the instinct which leads
him to center everything on himself； in other words egoism。＇23＇
II。 Will and Egoism。
Bonaparte's dominant passion。 … His lucid； calculating mind。 … Source
and power of the Will。 … Early evidences of an active； absorbing
egoism。 … His education derived from the lessons of things。 … In
Corsica。 … In France during the Revolution。 … In Italy。 … In Egypt。 …
His idea of Society and of Right。 … Maturing after the 18th of
Brumaire。 … His idea of Man。 … It conforms to his character
It is egoism； not a passive； but an active and intrusive egoism；
proportional to the energy and extension of his faculties developed by
his education and circumstances； exaggerated by his success and his
omnipotence to such a degree that a monstrous colossal I has been
erected in society。 It expands unceasingly the circle of a tenacious
and rapacious grasp； which regards all resistance as offensive； which
all independence annoys； and which； on the boundless domain it assigns
to itself； is intolerant of anybody that does not become either an
appendix or a tool。 … The germ of this absorbing personality is
already apparent in the youth and even in the infant。
〃Character： dominating； imperious； and stubborn；〃
says the record at Brienne。＇24＇ And the notes of the Military
Academy add；＇25＇
〃Extremely inclined to egoism；〃 … 〃proud； ambitious； aspiring in all
directions； fond of solitude；〃
undoubtedly because he is not master in a group of equals and is ill
at ease when he cannot rule。
〃I lived apart from my comrades；〃 he says at a later date。＇26＇ … 〃I
had selected a little corner in the playgrounds； where I used to go
and sit down and indulge my fancies。 When my comrades were disposed
to drive me out of this corner I defended it with all my might 。 My
instinct already told me that my will should prevail against other
wills； and that whatever pleased me ought to belong to me。〃
Referring to his early years under the paternal roof at Corsica； he
depicts himself as a little mischievous savage； rebelling against
every sort of restraint； and without any conscience。＇27＇ 〃 I respected
nothing and feared nobody； I beat one and scratched another； I made
everybody afraid of me。 I beat my brother Joseph； I bit him and
complained of him almost before he knew what he was about。〃 A clever
trick； and one which he was not slow to repeat。 His talent for
improvising useful falsehoods is innate； later on； at maturity； he is
proud of this ； he makes it the index and measure of 〃political
superiority；〃 and 〃delights in calling to mind one of his uncles who；
in his infancy； prognosticated to him that he would govern the world
because he was fond of lying。〃＇28＇
Remark this observation of the uncles … it sums up the experiences of
a man of his time and of his country； it is what social life in
Corsica inculcated； morals and manners there adapted themselves to
each other through an unfailing connection。 The moral law； indeed； is
such because similar customs prevail in all countries and at all times
where the police is powerless； where justice cannot be obtained； where
public interests are in the hands of whoever can lay hold of them；
where private warfare is pitiless and not repressed； where every man
goes armed； where every sort of weapon is fair； and where
dissimulation； fraud； and trickery； as well as gun or poniard； are
allowed； which was the case in Corsica in the eighteenth century； as
in Italy in the fifteenth century。 … Hence the early impressions of
Bonaparte similar to those of the Borgias and of Macchiavelli； hence；
in his case； that first stratum of half…thought which； later on；
serves as the basis of complete thought； hence； the whole foundation
of his future mental edifice and of the conceptions he subsequently
entertains of human society。 Afterwards； on leaving the French
schools and every time he returns to them and spends any time in them；
the same impressions； often renewed； intensify in his mind the same
final conclusion。 In this country； report the French
commissioners；＇29＇ 〃the people have no idea of principle in the
abstract；〃 nor of social interest or justice。 〃Justice does not
exist； one hundred and thirty assassinations have occurred in ten
years。 。 。 。 The institution of juries has deprived the country of all
the means for punishing crime； never do the strongest proofs； the
clearest evidence； lead a jury composed of men of the same party； or
of the same family as the accused； to convict him； and； if the accused
is of the opposite party； the juries likewise acquit him； so as not to
incur the risk of revenge； slow perhaps but always sure。〃 … 〃Public
spirit is unknown。〃 There is no social body； except any number of
small parties hostile to each other。 。 。 。 One is not a Corsican
without belonging to some family； and consequently attached to some
party； he who would serve none； would be detested by all。 。 。 。 All
the leaders have the same end in view； that of getting money no matter
by what means； and their first care is to surround themselves with
creatures entirely devoted to them and to whom they give all the
offices。 。 。 。 The elections are held under arms； and all with
violence。 。 。 。 The victorious party uses its authority to avenge
itself on their opponents； and multiplies vexations and outrages。 。 。
。 The leaders form aristocratic leagues with each other。 。 。 。 and
mutually tolerate abuses。 They impose no assessment or collection （of
taxes） to curry favor with electors through party spirit and
relationships。 。 。 。 Customs…duties serve simply to compensate friends
and relatives。 。 。 。 Salaries never reach those for whom they are
intended。 The rural districts are uninhabitable for lack of security。
The peasants carry guns even when at the plow。 One cannot take a step
without an escort； a detachment of five or six men is often sent to
carry a letter from one post…office to another。〃
Interpret this general statement by the thousands of facts of which it
is the summary； imagine these little daily occurrences narrated with
all their material accompaniments； and with sympathetic or angry
comments by interested neighbors； and we have the moral lessons taught
to young Bonaparte。＇30＇ At table； the child has listened to the
conversation of his elders； and at a word uttered； for instance； by
his uncle； or at a physiognomic expression； a sign of approbation； a
shrug of the shoulders； he has divined that the ordinary march of
society is not that of peace but of war； he sees by what ruses one
maintains one's…self； by what acts of violence one makes ones way； by