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too often。〃
〃It is certain；〃 writes an observer； 〃that he； of all men； is the one
who has most meditated on the why which controls human actions。〃
His method； that of the experimental sciences； consists in testing
every hypothesis or deduction by some positive fact； observed by him
under definite conditions； a physical force being ascertained and
accurately measured through the deviation of a needle； or through the
rise and fall of a fluid； this or that invisible moral force can
likewise be ascertained and approximately measured through some
emotional sign； some decisive manifestation； consisting of a certain
word； tone； or gesture。 It is these words； tones； and gestures which
he dwells on； he detects inward sentiments by the outward expression；
he figures to himself the internal by the external； by some facial
appearance； some telling attitude； some brief and topical scene； by
such specimen and shortcuts； so well chosen and detailed that they
provide a summary of the innumerable series of analogous cases。 In
this way； the vague； fleeting object is suddenly arrested； brought to
bear； and then gauged and weighed； like some impalpable gas collected
and kept in a graduated transparent glass tube。 … Accordingly； at the
Council of State； while the others； either jurists or administrators；
see abstractions； articles of the law and precedents； he sees people
as they are … the Frenchman； the Italian； the German； that of the
peasant； the workman； the bourgeois； the noble； the returned
émigré；＇62＇ the soldier； the officer and the functionary … everywhere
the individual man as he is； the man who plows； manufactures； fights；
marries； brings forth children； toils； enjoys himself； and dies。 …
Nothing is more striking than the contrast between the dull； grave
arguments advanced by the wise official editor； and Napoleon's own
words caught on the wing； at the moment； vibrating and teeming with
illustrations and imagery。＇63＇ Apropos of divorce； the principle of
which he wishes to maintain：
〃Consult； now； national manners and customs。 Adultery is no
phenomenon； it is common enough … une affaire de canapé 。 。 。 There
must be some curb on women who commit adultery for trinkets； poetry；
Apollo； and the muses； etc。〃
But if divorce be allowed for incompatibility of temper you undermine
marriage； the fragility of the bond will be apparent the moment the
obligation is contracted；
〃it is just as if a man said to himself； 'I am going to marry until I
feel different。' 〃
Nullity of marriage must not be too often allowed； once a marriage is
made it is a serious matter to undo it。
〃Suppose that； in marrying my cousin just arrived from the Indies； I
wed an adventuress。 She bears me children； and I then discover she is
not my cousin … is that marriage valid？ Does not public morality
demand that it should be so considered？ There has been a mutual
exchange of hearts； of transpiration。〃
On the right of children to be supported and fed although of age； he
says：
〃Will you allow a father to drive a girl of fifteen out of his house？
A father worth 60；000 francs a year might say to his son； 'You are
stout and fat； go and turn plowman。' The children of a rich father； or
of one in good circumstances； are always entitled to the paternal
porridge。 Strike out their right to be fed； and you compel children
to murder their parents。〃
As to adoption ：
〃You regard this as law…makers and not as statesmen。 It is not a
civil contract nor a judicial contract。 The analysis （of the jurist）
leads to vicious results。 Man is governed by imagination only；
without imagination he is a brute。 It is not for five cents a day；
simply to distinguish himself； that a man consents to be killed； if
you want to electrify him touch his heart。 A notary； who is paid a
fee of twelve francs for his services； cannot do that。 It requires
some other process； a legislative act。 Adoption； what is that？ An
imitation by which society tries to counterfeit nature。 It is a new
kind of sacrament。 。 。 。 Society ordains that the bones and blood
of one being shall be changed into the bones and blood of another。 It
is the greatest of all legal acts。 It gives the sentiments of a son
to one who never had them； and reciprocally those of a parent。 Where
ought this to originate？ From on high； like a clap of thunder ！〃
All his expressions are bright flashes one after another。＇64＇ Nobody；
since Voltaire and Galiani； has launched forth such a profusion of
them； on society； laws； government； France and the French； some
penetrate and explain； like those of Montesquieu； as if with a flash
of lightening。 He does not hammer them out laboriously； but they
burst forth； the outpourings of his intellect； its natural；
involuntary； constant action。 And what adds to their value is that；
outside of councils and private conversations； he abstains from them；
employing them only in the service of thought； at other times he
subordinates them to the end he has in view； which is always their
practical effect。 Ordinarily； he writes and speaks in a different
language； in a language suited to his audience； he dispenses with the
oddities； the irregular improvisations and imagination； the outbursts
of genius and inspiration。 He retains and uses merely those which are
intended to impress the personage whom he wishes to dazzle with a
great idea of himself； such as Pius VII。； or the Emperor Alexander。
In this case； his conversational tone is that of a caressing；
expansive； amiable familiarity； he is then before the footlights； and
when he acts he can play all parts； tragedy or comedy； with the same
life and spirit whether he fulminates； insinuates； or even affects
simplicity。 When he is with his generals； ministers； and principal
performers； he falls back on the concise； positive； technical business
style； any other would be harmful。 The keen mind only reveals itself
through the brevity and imperious strength and rudeness of the accent。
For his armies and the common run of men； he has his proclamations and
bulletins； that is to say； sonorous phrases composed for effect； a
statement of facts purposely simplified and falsified；＇65＇ in short；
an excellent effervescent wine； good for exciting enthusiasm； and an
equally excellent narcotic for maintaining credulity；＇66＇ a sort of
popular mixture to be distributed just at the proper time； and whose
ingredients are so well proportioned that the public drinks it with
delight； and becomes at once intoxicated。 … His style on every
occasion； whether affected or spontaneous； shows his wonderful
knowledge of the masses and of individuals； except in two or three
cases； on one exalted domain； of which he always remains ignorant； he
has ever hit the mark； applying the appropriate lever； giving just the
push； weight； and degree of impulsion which best accomplishes his
purpose。 A series of brief； accurate memoranda； corr