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he creates is for Marshal Lefebvre
〃purposely；〃 as he says；＇51＇ because 〃this marshal had been a private
and everybody in Paris had known him as a sergeant in the French
guards。〃
… With such an example before them； and so many others like it； not
less striking； there is no ambition that does not become exalted； and
often to delirium。
〃At this time；〃 says Stendhal； who seized the master…idea of the
reign； 〃there was no apothecary's apprentice in his back shop；
surrounded by his drugs and bottles； filtering and pounding away in
his mortar； who did not say to himself that； if he chanced to make
some great discovery； he would be made a count with fifty thousand
francs a year。〃
In those days there was no under…clerk who； in his labored penmanship；
inscribed names on a piece of parchment； that did not imagine his own
name appearing some day on a senatorial or ministerial diploma。 At
this time the youthful corporal who dons his first stripes of gold
braid already fancies that he hears the beating of the drums； the
blast of the trumpet； and the salvos of artillery which proclaim him
marshal of the Empire。＇52＇
V。 Self…esteem and a good Reputation。
The inward spring from 1789 to 1815。 … Its force。 … Its decline。 … How
it ends in breaking the machine down。
A new force； extraordinary； is just apparent in history； a spiritual
force analogous to that which formerly stimulated souls in Spain in
the sixteenth century； in European the time of the crusades； and in
Arabia in the time of Mahomet。 It stimulates the faculties to excess；
increases energy tenfold； transports man beyond or above himself；
creates enthusiasts and heroes； blinding or rendering men crazy； and
hence the irresistible conquerors and rulers。 It stamps its imprint
and leaves its memorials in ineffaceable characters on men and things
from Cadiz to Moscow。 It overrides all natural barriers and transcends
all ordinary limits。 〃The French soldier；〃 writes a Prussian officer
after Jena；＇53＇ 〃are small and puny。 One of our Germans could whip any
four of them。 But； under fire； they become supernatural beings。 They
are swept along by an indescribable ardor of which there is not a
trace among our soldiers。 。 。 。 What can you do with peasants whom
nobles lead into battle； but whose danger they share without any
interest in their passions or recompenses！〃 … Coupled with the
physical needs which requires a certain amount of ease and of daily
food； and which； if too strenuously opposed； produces passing
jacqueries； there is a still more potent longing which； on suddenly
encountering its object； seizes on it； clings to it； gorges it； and
produces revolutions that last： this longing is the desire to
contemplate one…self with satisfaction and complacency； forming of
one's self a pleasing； flattering image； and of trying to impress and
plant this image in the minds of others； in short； the ambition for a
great self…esteem and of becoming greatly esteemed by others。＇54＇ This
sentiment； according to the quality of the person and according to
circumstances； gives birth sometimes to the noblest virtues and the
most sublime devotion； and at other times to the worst misdeeds and
the most dangerous delirium： the man becomes transfigured； the
sleeping god or demon which both live within him is suddenly aroused。
After 1789； both appear and both together； from this date onward； says
an eye…witness；＇55＇ and； during one quarter of a century； 〃for most
Frenchmen and in whatever class；〃 the object of life is displaced；
each has put it outside of himself； from now on； the essential thing
for everybody is 〃to have lived；〃 or 〃to have died for something；〃 for
an idea。 A man becomes the slave of his idea； gives himself up to it；
consequently； he has experienced the intense satisfaction of
considering himself a noble being； of superior essence； foremost among
the first； and of seeing himself regarded in that light and proclaimed
and glorified as such。 … This keen； profound and intense pleasure was
first enjoyed by the French on listening to the Declaration of the
Rights of Man； from then； and in good faith； they felt themselves
citizens； philosophers； the destroyers of prejudices and wrongs；
zealots in behalf of truth； liberty and equality； and then； when the
war of 1792 came； the defenders of the country； missionaries and
propagators of every grand principle。＇56＇ … Towards 1796； principles
began to recede in the background；＇57＇ in the ideal portrait which man
makes of himself the liberator and benefactor of mankind gradually
gives way to the admirable and admired hero capable of great
achievements。 This inner portrait of himself suffices for his
happiness for some years to come： vanity＇58＇ properly so called and a
calculating ambition are not the incentives of action； if he obtains
promotion it is without asking for it； his aspiration is simply to
display himself； to be lavish of himself and live or die courageously
and gaily＇59＇ along with his comrade； to be considered； outside the
service； the equal； friend and brother of his subordinates and of his
chiefs。＇60＇ Pillage； nevertheless； has begun； for； a long continuance
of war depraves the conqueror； brutality； indifference to property and
to life grows on him； if callous； or he wishes to become so； he eats；
drinks and enjoys the passing hour； if provident and wary； he scrapes
together what he can or levies contributions and hoards money。 … Under
the Empire； and especially towards 1808 and 1809； the ideal figure
degenerates still more； from now on； it is the successful or the
coming officer； with his rank and its accouterments； his gold…
embroidered uniform and badges； exercising authority over so many
hundreds and thousands of men and enjoying a certain notable sum of
regular salaries； besides other gratifications bestowed on him by the
master； along with the profits he can make out of the vanquished。＇61＇
All that he now cares for is rapid promotion； and in any way； noble or
ignoble； at first； of course； on the main road； that is in straining
himself and risking his life； but likewise on a new road； in an
affectation of zeal； in practicing and professing blind obedience； in
abandoning all political ideas； in devoting himself no longer to
France； but to the sovereign： sympathy for his comrades gives way to
harsh rivalry； soldierly friendships； under the anticipation of
advancement； die out。 A vacancy due to death is for the benefit of
survivors and they know it。 〃At Talavera；〃 says Stendhal； 〃two
officers stood together at their battery； while a ball comes and the
captain falls。 'Good；' says the lieutenant； 'now Fran？ois is dead and
I shall be captain。' 'Not yet；' says Fran？ois； who was only stunned
and who gets up on his feet。 These two men were neither unfriendly nor
inimical； only the lieutenant wanted to rise a step higher in rank。〃
And this shrewd observer adds： 〃Such was the furious egoism then
styled love of glory and which； under this title； the Emperor had
communicated to the French。〃
On this slope the slide is rapid and abject。 Each； at first； thinks of
himself； the individual makes of himself a center。 The example；
moreover； comes from above。 Is it for France or for himself that
Napoleon works？＇62＇ So many immense enterprises； the conquest of
Spain； the expedition into Russia； the installation of his brothers
and relations on new thrones； the constant partition and rearrangement
of Europe； all those incessant and more and more distant wars； is it
for the public good and common safety that he accumulates them？ What
does he himself desire if not to push his fortunes still farther？ … He
is too much ambitious （trop ambitionnaire）； say his own soldiers；＇63＇
and yet they follow him to the last。 〃We have always marched along
with him；〃 replied the old grenadiers；＇64＇ who had traversed Poland to
penetrate into Russia； 〃we couldn't abandon him this time and leave
him alone by himself。〃 … But others who see him nearer by； those who
stand first and next to him； do as he does； and； however high these
have mounted； they want to mount still higher； or； otherwise； to keep
their places； or； at least； provide for themselves and hold on to
something substantial。 Masséna has accumulated forty millions and
Talleyrand sixty；＇65＇ in case of a political crash the money remains。
Soult tried to have himself elected king of Portugal；＇66＇ and
Bernadotte finds means to have himself elected king of Sweden。 After
Leipsic； Murat bargains with the allies； and； to retain his Neapolitan
kingdom； he agrees to furnish a contingent against France； before the
battle of Leipsic； Bernadotte is with the allies and fights with them
against France。 In 1814； Bernadotte and Joseph； each caring for
himself； the former by intrigues and with the intriguers of the
interior； also by feeling his way with the foreign sovereigns while
the latter； in the absence of Napoleon； by