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and hastily；＇53＇ his classical education is rudimentary； in the way of
Latin； he remained in the lower class。 The instruction he got at the
Military Academy as well as at Brienne was below mediocrity； while；
after Brienne； it is stated that 〃for the languages and belles…
lettres； he had no taste。〃 Next to this； the literature of elegance
and refinement； the philosophy of the closet and drawing…room； with
which his contemporaries are imbued； glided over his intellect as over
a hard rock。 None but mathematical truths and positive notions about
geography and history found their way into his mind and deeply
impressed it。 Everything else； as with his predecessors of the
fifteenth century； comes to him through the original； direct action of
his faculties in contact with men and things； through his prompt and
sure tact； his indefatigable and minute attention； his indefinitely
repeated and rectified divinations during long hours of solitude and
silence。 Practice； and not speculation； is the source of his
instruction； the same as with a mechanic brought up amongst machinery。
〃There is nothing relating to warfare that I cannot make myself。 If
nobody knows how to make gunpowder； I do。 I can construct gun…
carriages。 If cannon must be cast； I will see that it is done
properly。 If tactical details must be taught； I will teach them。〃＇54＇
This is why he is competent right from the beginning； general in the
artillery； major…general； diplomatist； financier and administrator of
all kinds。 Thanks to this fertile apprenticeship； beginning with the
Consulate； he shows officials and veteran ministers who send in their
reports to him what to do。
〃I am a more experienced administrator than they；＇55＇ when one has
been obliged to extract from his brains the ways and means with which
to feed； maintain； control； and move with the same spirit and will two
or three hundred thousand men； a long distance from their country； one
has soon discovered the secrets of administration。〃
In each of the human machines he builds and manipulates； he perceives
right away all the parts； each in its proper place and function； the
motors； the transmissions； the wheels； the composite action； the speed
which ensues； the final result； the complete effect； the net product。
Never is he content with a superficial and summary inspection； he
penetrates into obscure corners and to the lowest depths 〃through the
technical precision of his questions；〃 with the lucidity of a
specialist； and in this way； borrowing an expression from the
philosophers； with him the concept should be adequate to its
purpose。＇56＇
Hence his eagerness for details； for these form the body and substance
of the concept； the hand that has not grasped these； or lets them go；
retains only the shell； an envelope。 With respect to these his
curiosity is 〃insatiable。〃＇57＇ In each ministerial department he knows
more than the ministers； and in each bureau he knows as much as the
clerks。 〃On his table＇58＇ lie reports of the positions of his forces
on land and on water。 He has furnished the plans of these； and fresh
ones are issued every month〃； such is the daily reading he likes best。
〃I have my reports on positions always at hand； my memory for an
Alexandrine is not good； but I never forget a syllable of my reports
on positions。 I shall find them in my room this evening； and I shall
not go to bed until I have read them。〃
He always knows 〃his position〃 on land and at sea better than is known
in the War and Navy departments； better even than his staff…officers
the number； size； and qualities of his ships in or out of port； the
present and future state of vessels under construction； the
composition and strength of their crews； the formation； organization；
staff of officers； material； stations； and enlistments； past and to
come； of each army corps and of each regiment。 It is the same in the
financial and diplomatic services； in every branch of the
administration； laic or ecclesiastical； in the physical order and in
the moral order。 His topographical memory and his geographical
conception of countries； places； ground； and obstacles culminate in an
inward vision which he evokes at will； and which； years afterwards；
revives as fresh as on the first day。 His calculation of distances；
marches； and maneuvers is so rigid a mathematical operation that；
frequently； at a distance of two or four hundred leagues；＇59＇ his
military foresight； calculated two or four months ahead； turns out
correct； almost on the day named； and precisely on the spot
designated。＇60＇ Add to this one other faculty； and the rarest of all。
For； if things turn out as he foresaw they would； it is because； as
with great chess…players； he has accurately measured not alone the
mechanical moves of the pieces； but the character and talent of his
adversary； 〃sounded his draft of water；〃 and divined his probable
mistakes。 He has added the calculation of physical quantities and
probabilities to the calculation of moral quantities and
probabilities； thus showing himself as great a psychologist as he is
an accomplished strategist。 In fact； no one has surpassed him in the
art of judging the condition and motives of an individual or of a
group of people； the real motives； permanent or temporary； which drive
or curb men in general or this or that man in particular； the
incentives to be employed； the kind and degree of pressure to be
employed。 This central faculty rules all the others； and in the art
of mastering Man his genius is found supreme。
III。 His acute Understanding of Others。
His psychological faculty and way of getting at the thought and
feeling of others。… His self…analysis。 … How he imagines a general
situation by selecting a particular case； imagining the invisible
interior by deducting from the visible exterior。 … Originality and
superiority of his style and discourse。 … His adaptation of these to
his hearers and to circumstances。 … His notation and calculation of
serviceable motives。
No faculty is more precious for a political engineer； for the forces
he acts upon are never other than human passions。 But how； except
through divination； can these passions； which grow out of the deepest
sentiments； be reached？ How； save by conjecture； can forces be
estimated which seem to defy all measurement？ On this dark and
uncertain ground； where one has to grope one's way； Napoleon moves
with almost absolute certainty； he moves promptly。 First of all； he
studies himself； indeed； to find one's way into another's soul
requires； preliminarily； that one should dive deep into one's own。＇61＇
〃I have always delighted in analysis；〃 said he； one day； 〃and should I
ever fall seriously in love I would take my sentiment to pieces。 Why
and How are such important questions one cannot put them to one's self
too often。〃
〃It is certain；〃 writes an observer； 〃that he； of all men； is the one
who has most m