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many respects resembled。 The American； like the Dutch patriot；
stands out in history as the very impersonation of dignity；
bravery； purity； and personal excellence。 His command over his
feelings； even in moments of great difficulty and danger； was such
as to convey the impression； to those who did not know him
intimately； that he was a man of inborn calmness and almost
impassiveness of disposition。 Yet Washington was by nature ardent
and impetuous； his mildness； gentleness； politeness； and
consideration for others； were the result of rigid self…control
and unwearied self…discipline； which he diligently practised even
from his boyhood。 His biographer says of him； that 〃his
temperament was ardent； his passions strong； and amidst the
multiplied scenes of temptation and excitement through which he
passed； it was his constant effort； and ultimate triumph； to check
the one and subdue the other。〃 And again： 〃His passions were
strong； and sometimes they broke out with vehemence； but he had
the power of checking them in an instant。 Perhaps self…control
was the most remarkable trait of his character。 It was in part
the effect of discipline； yet he seems by nature to have possessed
this power in a degree which has been denied to other men。 （*5）
The Duke of Wellington's natural temper； like that of Napoleon；
was irritable in the extreme； and it was only by watchful self…
control that he was enabled to restrain it。 He studied calmness
and coolness in the midst of danger； like any Indian chief。 At
Waterloo； and elsewhere； he gave his orders in the most critical
moments； without the slightest excitement； and in a tone of voice
almost more than usually subdued。 （6）
Wordsworth the poet was； in his childhood； 〃of a stiff； moody； and
violent temper；〃 and 〃perverse and obstinate in defying
chastisement。〃 When experience of life had disciplined his
temper； he learnt to exercise greater self…control； but； at the
same time； the qualities which distinguished him as a child were
afterwards useful in enabling him to defy the criticism of his
enemies。 Nothing was more marked than Wordsworth's self…respect
and self…determination； as well as his self…consciousness of
power； at all periods of his history。
Henry Martyn； the missionary； was another instance of a man in
whom strength of temper was only so much pent…up； unripe energy。
As a boy he was impatient； petulant； and perverse； but by constant
wrestling against his tendency to wrongheadedness； he gradually
gained the requisite strength； so as to entirely overcome it； and
to acquire what he so greatly covetedthe gift of patience。
A man may be feeble in organization； but； blessed with a happy
temperament； his soul may be great； active； noble； and sovereign。
Professor Tyndall has given us a fine picture of the character of
Faraday； and of his self…denying labours in the cause of science
exhibiting him as a man of strong； original； and even fiery
nature； and yet of extreme tenderness and sensibility。
〃Underneath his sweetness and gentleness；〃 he says； 〃was the heat
of a volcano。 He was a man of excitable and fiery nature； but；
through high self…discipline； he had converted the fire into a
central glow and motive power of life； instead of permitting it to
waste itself in useless passion。〃
There was one fine feature in Faraday's character which is worthy
of noticeone closely akin to self…control： it was his self…
denial。 By devoting himself to analytical chemistry； he might
have speedily realised a large fortune； but he nobly resisted the
temptation； and preferred to follow the path of pure science。
〃Taking the duration of his life into account；〃 says Mr。 Tyndall；
〃this son of a blacksmith and apprentice to a bookbinder had to
decide between a fortune of ？150；000 on the one side； and his
undowered science on the other。 He chose the latter； and
died a poor man。 But his was the glory of holding aloft
among the nations the scientific name of England for a
period of forty years。〃 （7）
Take a like instance of the self…denial of a Frenchman。 The
historian Anquetil was one of the small number of literary men in
France who refused to bow to the Napoleonic yoke。 He sank into
great poverty； living on bread…and…milk； and limiting his
expenditure to only three sous a day。 〃I have still two sous a
day left；〃 said he； 〃for the conqueror of Marengo and Austerlitz。〃
〃But if you fall sick；〃 said a friend to him； 〃you will need the
help of a pension。 Why not do as others do？ Pay court to the
Emperoryou have need of him to live。〃 〃I do not need him to
die；〃 was the historian's reply。 But Anquetil did not die of
poverty； he lived to the age of ninety…four； saying to a friend；
on the eve of his death； 〃Come； see a man who dies still full of
life！〃
Sir James Outram exhibited the same characteristic of noble self…
denial； though in an altogether different sphere of life。 Like
the great King Arthur； he was emphatically a man who 〃forbore his
own advantage。〃 He was characterised throughout his whole career
by his noble unselfishness。 Though he might personally disapprove
of the policy he was occasionally ordered to carry out； he never
once faltered in the path of duty。 Thus he did not approve of the
policy of invading Scinde； yet his services throughout the
campaign were acknowledged by General Sir C。 Napier to have been
of the most brilliant character。 But when the war was over； and
the rich spoils of Scinde lay at the conqueror's feet； Outram
said： 〃I disapprove of the policy of this warI will accept no
share of the prize…money！〃
Not less marked was his generous self…denial when despatched with
a strong force to aid Havelock in fighting his way to Lucknow。 As
superior officer； he was entitled to take upon himself the chief
command； but； recognising what Havelock had already done； with
rare disinterestedness； he left to his junior officer the glory of
completing the campaign； offering to serve under him as a
volunteer。 〃With such reputation；〃 said Lord Clyde； 〃as Major…
General Outram has won for himself； he can afford to share glory
and honour with others。 But that does not lessen the value of the
sacrifice he has made with such disinterested generosity。〃
If a man would get through life honourably and peaceably； he must
necessarily learn to practise self…denial in small things as well
as great。 Men have to bear as well as forbear。 The temper has to
be held in subjection to the judgment； and the little demons of
ill…humour； petulance； and sarcasm； kept resolutely at a distance。
If once they find an entrance to the mind； they are very apt
to return； and to establish for themselves a permanent
occupation there。
It is necessary to one's personal happiness； to exercise control
over one's words as well as acts： for there are words that strike
even harder than blows； and men may 〃speak daggers；〃 though they
use none。 〃UN COUP DE LANGUE；〃 sa