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system。 Business； like life； is managed by moral leverage；
success in both depending in no small degree upon that regulation
of temper and careful self…discipline； which give a wise man not
only a command over himself； but over others。 Forbearance and
self…control smooth the road of life； and open many ways which
would otherwise remain closed。 And so does self…respect： for as
men respect themselves； so will they usually respect the
personality of others。
It is the same in politics as in business。 Success in that sphere
of life is achieved less by talent than by temper； less by genius
than by character。 If a man have not self…control； he will lack
patience； be wanting in tact； and have neither the power of
governing himself nor of managing others。 When the quality most
needed in a Prime Minister was the subject of conversation in the
presence of Mr。 Pitt； one of the speakers said it was 〃Eloquence；〃
another said it was 〃Knowledge；〃 and a third said it was 〃Toil；〃
〃No；〃 said Pitt； 〃it is Patience！〃 And patience means self…
control； a quality in which he himself was superb。 His friend
George Rose has said of him that he never once saw Pitt out of
temper。 （3） Yet； although patience is usually regarded as a
〃slow〃 virtue； Pitt combined with it the most extraordinary
readiness； vigour； and rapidity of thought as well as action。
It is by patience and self…control that the truly heroic character
is perfected。 These were among the most prominent characteristics
of the great Hampden； whose noble qualities were generously
acknowledged even by his political enemies。 Thus Clarendon
described him as a man of rare temper and modesty； naturally
cheerful and vivacious； and above all； of a flowing courtesy。 He
was kind and intrepid； yet gentle； of unblameable conversation；
and his heart glowed with love to all men。 He was not a man of
many words； but； being of unimpeachable character； every word he
uttered carried weight。 〃No man had ever a greater power over
himself。。。。 He was very temperate in diet； and a supreme governor
over all his passions and affections； and he had thereby great
power over other men's。〃 Sir Philip Warwick； another of his
political opponents； incidentally describes his great influence in
a certain debate： 〃We had catched at each other's locks； and
sheathed our swords in each other's bowels； had not the sagacity
and great calmness of Mr。 Hampden； by a short speech； prevented
it； and led us to defer our angry debate until the next morning。〃
A strong temper is not necessarily a bad temper。 But the stronger
the temper； the greater is the need of self…discipline and self…
control。 Dr。 Johnson says men grow better as they grow older； and
improve with experience； but this depends upon the width； and
depth； and generousness of their nature。 It is not men's faults
that ruin them so much as the manner in which they conduct
themselves after the faults have been committed。 The wise will
profit by the suffering they cause； and eschew them for the
future； but there are those on whom experience exerts no ripening
influence； and who only grow narrower and bitterer and more
vicious with time。
What is called strong temper in a young man； often indicates a
large amount of unripe energy； which will expend itself in useful
work if the road be fairly opened to it。 It is said of Stephen
Gerard； a Frenchman； who pursued a remarkably successful career in
the United States； that when he heard of a clerk with a strong
temper； he would readily take him into his employment； and set him
to work in a room by himself； Gerard being of opinion that such
persons were the best workers； and that their energy would expend
itself in work if removed from the temptation to quarrel。
Strong temper may only mean a strong and excitable will。
Uncontrolled； it displays itself in fitful outbreaks of passion；
but controlled and held in subjectionlike steam pent…up within
the organised mechanism of a steam…engine； the use of which is
regulated and controlled by slide…valves and governors and levers
it may become a source of energetic power and usefulness。
Hence； some of the greatest characters in history have been men of
strong temper； but of equally strong determination to hold their
motive power under strict regulation and control。
The famous Earl of Strafford was of an extremely choleric and
passionate nature； and had great struggles with himself in his
endeavours to control his temper。 Referring to the advice of one
of his friends； old Secretary Cooke； who was honest enough to tell
him of his weakness； and to caution him against indulging it； he
wrote： 〃You gave me a good lesson to be patient； and； indeed； my
years and natural inclinations give me heat more than enough；
which； however； I trust more experience shall cool； and a watch
over myself in time altogether overcome； in the meantime； in this
at least it will set forth itself more pardonable； because my
earnestness shall ever be for the honour； justice； and profit of
my master； and it is not always anger； but the misapplying of it；
that is the vice so blameable； and of disadvantage to those that
let themselves loose there…unto。〃 （4）
Cromwell； also； is described as having been of a wayward and
violent temper in his youthcross； untractable； and masterless
with a vast quantity of youthful energy； which exploded in a
variety of youthful mischiefs。 He even obtained the reputation of
a roysterer in his native town； and seemed to be rapidly going to
the bad； when religion； in one of its most rigid forms； laid hold
upon his strong nature； and subjected it to the iron discipline of
Calvinism。 An entirely new direction was thus given to his energy
of temperament； which forced an outlet for itself into public
life； and eventually became the dominating influence in England
for a period of nearly twenty years。
The heroic princes of the House of Nassau were all distinguished
for the same qualities of self…control； self…denial； and
determination of purpose。 William the Silent was so called； not
because he was a taciturn manfor he was an eloquent and
powerful speaker where eloquence was necessarybut because he
was a man who could hold his tongue when it was wisdom not to
speak； and because he carefully kept his own counsel when to have
revealed it might have been dangerous to the liberties of his
country。 He was so gentle and conciliatory in his manner that his
enemies even described him as timid and pusillanimous。 Yet； when
the time for action came； his courage was heroic； his
determination unconquerable。 〃The rock in the ocean；〃 says
Mr。 Motley； the historian of the Netherlands； 〃tranquil amid
raging billows； was the favourite emblem by which his friends
expressed their sense of his firmness。〃
Mr。 Motley compares William the Silent to Washington； whom he in
many respects resembled。 The American； like the Dutch patriot；
stands out in histo