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alone for themselves but for their family： henceforth； the work as he
does； eighteen hours a day； stand fire； and say to themselves； while
sinking at their desks or facing cannon…ball that their pre…eminence
survives them in their posterity：
〃In any event my son will succeed me and even become greater by my
death。〃
All the temptations which serve to overcome the natural lethargy of
human matter are simultaneously united and； with the exception of
personal conscience and the desire for personal independence； all
other internal springs are strained to the utmost。 One unusual
circumstance gives to eager ambitions a further increase of energy；
impulse and enthusiasm。 … All these successful or parvenu men are
contemporaries： all have started alike on the same line and from the
same average or low condition in life； each sees old comrades superior
to himself on the upper steps； he considers himself as good they are；
suffers because he is not on their level； and strives and takes risks
so as to mount up to them。 But； however high he mounts； he still sees
higher yet others who were formerly his equals； consequently； no rank
obtained by them seems to him above his deserts； and no rank that he
obtains suffices for his pretensions。
〃See that Masséna；〃 exclaimed Napoleon；＇50＇ a few days before the
battle of Wagram； 〃he has honors and fame enough； but he is not
satisfied ； he wants be a prince like Murat and Bernadotte： he will
risk getting shot to…morrow simply to be a prince。〃 …
Above these princes who have only the rank； the title and the money；
come the grand…dukes and reigning viceroys like Murat； grand…duke of
Berg； and Eugene； viceroy of Italy。 Above Eugene and Murat are the
vassal…kings； Louis； Joseph； Jerome； then Murat himself； who； among
these； is in a better place； and Bernadotte； the only sovereign that
is independent； all more or less envied by the marshals； all more or
less rivals of each other； the inferior aspiring to the superior
throne； Murat inconsolable at being sent to Naples and not to Spain；
and at having only five millions of subjects instead of thirteen
millions。 From top to bottom of the hierarchy and even to the loftiest
places； comprising thrones； the steps rise regularly above each other
in continuous file； so that each leads to the following one； with
nothing to hinder the first…comer； provided he is lucky； has good legs
and does not fall on the way； from reaching the top of the staircase
in twenty or thirty years。 〃It was commonly reported in the army … he
has been promoted king of Naples； of Holland； of Spain； of Sweden； as
formerly was said of the same sort of man； who had been promoted
sergeant in this or that company。〃 … Such is the total and final
impression which lingers on in all imaginations； it is in this sense
that the people interpret the new Régime； and Napoleon devotes himself
to confirming the popular interpretation。 Accordingly； the first duchy
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 an