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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
what sort of help one mounts upward。 Left to himself the rest of the
day； to the nurse Ilaria； or to Saveria the housekeeper； or to the
common people amongst whom he strays at will； he listens to the
conversation of sailors or of shepherds assembled on the public
square； and their simple exclamations； their frank admiration of well…
planned ambuscades and lucky surprises； impress more profoundly on
him； often repeated with so much energy； the lessons which he has
already learned at home。 These are the lessons taught by things。 At
this tender age they sink deep； especially when the disposition is
favorable； and in this case the heart sanctions them beforehand；
because education finds its confederate in instinct。 Accordingly； at
the outbreak of the Revolution； on revisiting Corsica； he takes life
at once as he finds it there； a combat with any sort of weapon； and；
on this small arena； he acts unscrupulously； going farther than
anybody。＇31＇ If he respects justice and law； it is only in words； and
even here ironically； in his eyes； law is a term of the code； justice
a book term； while might makes right。
A second blow of the coining…press gives another impression of the
same stamp on this character already so decided； while French anarchy
forces maxims into the mind of the young man； already traced in the
child's mind by Corsican anarchy； the lessons of things provided by a
society going to pieces are the same as those of a society which is
not yet formed。 … His sharp eyes； at a very early period； see through
the flourish of theory and the parade of phrases； they detect the real
foundation of the Revolution； namely； the sovereignty of unbridled
passions and the conquest of the majority by the minority； conquering
or conquered； a choice must be made between these two extreme
conditions； there is no middle course。 After the 9th of Thermidor；
the last veils are torn away； and the instincts of license and
domination； the ambitions of individuals； fully display themselves。
There is no concern for public interests or for the rights of the
people； it is clear that the rulers form a band； that France is their
prey； and that they intend to hold on to it for and against everybody；
by every possible means； including bayonets。 Under this civil régime；
a clean sweep of the broom at the center makes it necessary to be on
the side of numbers。 … In the armies； especially in the army of Italy；
republican faith and patriotic abnegation； since the territory became
free； have given way to natural appetites and military passions。＇32＇
Barefoot； in rags； with four ounces of bread a day； paid in assignats
which are not accepted in the markets； both officers and men desire
above all things to be relieved of their misery； 〃the poor fellows；
after three years of longing on the summits of the Alps； reach the
promised land； and want to enjoy it。〃＇33＇ Another spur consists in the
pride which is stimulated by the imagination and by success； add to
this the necessity for finding an outlet for their energy； the steam
and high pressure of youth ； nearly all are very young men； who regard
life； in Gallic or French fashion； as a party of pleasure and as a
duel。 But to feel brave and to prove that one is so； to face bullets
for amusement and defiantly； to abandon a successful adventure for a
battle and a battle for a ball； to enjoy ones…self and take risks to
excess； without dissimulating； and with no other object than the
sensation of the moment；＇34＇ to revel in excitement through emulation
and danger； is no longer self…devotion； but giving one's…self up to
one's fancies ； and； for all who are not harebrained； to give one's…
self up to one's fancies means to make one's way； obtain promotion；
pillage so as to become rich； like Massena； and conquer so as to
become powerful； like Bonaparte。 … All this is understood between the
general and his army from the very first；＇35＇ and； after one year's
experience； the understanding is perfect。 One moral is derived from
their common acts； vague in the army； precise in the general； what the
army only half sees； he sees clearly； if he urges his comrades on； it
is because they follow their own inclination。 He simply has a start on
them； and is quicker to make up his mind that the world is a grand
banquet； free to the first…comer； but at which； to be well served； one
must have long arms； be the first to get helped； and let the rest take
what is left。
So natural does this seem to him； he says so openly and to men who are
not his intimates； to Miot； a diplomat； and to Melzi a foreigner：
〃Do you suppose； says he to them；＇36＇ after the preliminaries of
Leoben； 〃that to make great men out of Directory lawyers； the Carnots'
and the Barras； I triumph in Italy？ Do you suppose also that it is for
the establishment of a republic？ What an idea！ A republic of thirty
million m