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one of that class。〃 〃And you； like the rest； took part in the
Revolution through ambition？〃 〃No； sire； I should have calculated
badly； for I am now precisely where I stood in 1790。〃
〃You were not sufficiently aware of the motives which prompted you；
you cannot be different from other people； it is all personal
interest。 Now； take Massena。 He has glory and honors enough； but he
is not content。 He wants to be a prince； like Murat and like
Bernadotte。 He would risk being shot to…morrow to be a prince。 That
is the incentive of Frenchmen。〃 …
His system is based on this。 The most competent witnesses； and those
who were most familiar with him certify to his fixed idea on this
point。
〃His opinions on men；〃 writes M。 de Metternich；＇45＇ 〃centered on one
idea； which； unfortunately for him； had acquired in his mind the force
of an axiom； he was persuaded that no man who was induced to appear on
the public stage； or who was merely engaged in the active pursuits of
life； governed himself； or was governed； otherwise than by his
interest。〃
According to him； Man is held through his egoistic passions； fear；
cupidity； sensuality； self…esteem； and emulation； these are the
mainsprings when he is not under excitement； when he reasons。
Moreover； it is not difficult to turn the brain of man； for he is
imaginative； credulous； and subject to being carried away； stimulate
his pride or vanity； provide him with an extreme and false opinion of
himself and of his fellow…men； and you can start him off head downward
wherever you please。＇46＇ … None of these motives is entitled to much
respect； and beings thus fashioned form the natural material for an
absolute government； the mass of clay awaiting the potter's hand to
shape it。 If parts of this mass are obdurate； the potter has only to
crush and pound them and mix them thoroughly。
Such is the final conception on which Napoleon has anchored himself；
and into which he sinks deeper and deeper； no matter how directly and
violently he may be contradicted by palpable facts。 Nothing will
dislodge him； neither the stubborn energy of the English； nor the
inflexible gentleness of the Pope； nor the declared insurrection of
the Spaniards； nor the mute insurrection of the Germans； nor the
resistance of Catholic consciences； nor the gradual disaffection of
the French； the reason is； that his conception is imposed on him by
his character；＇47＇ he sees man as he needs to see him。
III。 Napoleon's Dominant Passion： Power。
His mastery of the will of others。 … Degree of submission required by
him。 … His mode of appreciating others and of profiting by them。 …
Tone of command and of conversation。
We at last confront his dominant passion； the inward abyss into which
instinct； education； reflection； and theory have plunged him； and
which is to engulf the proud edifice of his fortune … I mean； his
ambition。 It is the prime motor of his soul and the permanent
substance of his will； so profound that he no longer distinguishes
between it and himself； and of which he is sometimes unconscious。
〃I；〃 said he to Roederer；＇48＇ 〃I have no ambition；〃 and then；
recollecting himself； he adds； with his ordinary lucidity； 〃or； if I
have any； it is so natural to me； so innate； so intimately associated
with my existence； that it is like the blood which flows in my veins
and the atmosphere I breathe。〃 …
Still more profoundly； he likens it to that unconscious； savage； and
irresistible emotion which vibrates the soul from one end to the
other； to this universal thrill moving all living beings； animal or
moral； to those keen and terrible tremors which we call the passion of
love。
〃I have but one passion；＇49＇ one mistress； and that is France。 I
sleep with her。 She has never been false to me。 She lavishes her
blood and treasures on me。 If I need 500；000 men； she gives them to
me。〃
Let no one come between him and her。 Let Joseph； in relation to the
coronation； abstain from claiming his place； even secondary and
prospective； in the new empire； let him not put forth his fraternal
rights。＇50＇ 〃It is to wound me in the most tender spot。〃 This he does；
and； 〃Nothing can efface that from my souvenirs。 It is as if he had
told an impassioned lover that he had slept with his mistress； or
merely that he hoped to succeed with her。 My mistress is power。 I
have worked too hard to obtain her； to let her be ravished from me； or
even suffer anybody to covet her。〃 This ambition； as avid as it is
jealous； which becomes exasperated at the very idea of a rival； feels
hampered by the mere idea of setting a limit to it； however vast the
acquired power； he would like to have it still more vast； on quitting
the most copious banquet； he still remains insatiate。 On the day
after the coronation he said to Decrés：＇51＇
〃I come too late； there is no longer anything great to accomplish。 I
admit that my career is brilliant and that I have made my way
successfully。 But what a difference alongside of antiquity！ Take
Alexander！ After having conquered Asia； and proclaimed himself to the
people as the son of Jupiter； with the exception of Olympias； who knew
what all this meant； and Aristotle； and a few Athenian pedants； the
entire Orient believed him。 Very well； should I now declare that I was
the son of God Almighty； and proclaim that I am going to worship him
under this title； every market woman would hoot at me as I walked
along the streets。 People nowadays know too much。 Nothing is left to
do。〃
And yet； even on this secluded； elevated domain； and which twenty
centuries of civilization keeps inaccessible； he still encroaches； and
to the utmost； in a roundabout way； by laying his hand on the Church；
and next on the Pope； here； as elsewhere； he takes all he can get。
Nothing in his eyes； is more natural； he has a right to it； because he
is the only capable one。
〃My Italian people＇52＇ must know me well enough not to forget that
there is more in my little finger than in all their brains put
together。〃
Alongside of him； they are children； 〃minors；〃 the French also； and
likewise the rest of mankind。 A diplomat； who often saw him and
studied him under all as aspects； sums up his character in one
conclusive phrase：
〃He considered himself an isolated being in this world； made to govern
and direct all minds as he pleased。〃＇53＇
Hence； whoever has anything to do with him； must abandon his
independence and become his tool of government。
〃That terrible man；〃 often exclaimed Decrés＇54＇ 〃has subjugated us
all！ He holds all our imaginations in his hands； now of steel and now
of velvet； but whether one or the other during the day nobody knows；
and there is no way to escape from them whatever they seize on they
never let go！〃
Independence of any kind； even eventual and merely possible； puts him
in a bad mood； intellectual or moral superiority is of this order； and
he grad