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as we ourselves are。
The records of the lives of good men are especially useful。 They
influence our hearts； inspire us with hope； and set before us
great examples。 And when men have done their duty through life in
a great spirit； their influence will never wholly pass away。 〃The
good life；〃 says George Herbert； 〃is never out of season。〃
Goethe has said that there is no man so commonplace that a wise
man may not learn something from him。 Sir Walter Scott could not
travel in a coach without gleaning some information or discovering
some new trait of character in his companions。 （3） Dr。 Johnson
once observed that there was not a person in the streets but he
should like to know his biographyhis experiences of life； his
trials； his difficulties； his successes； and his failures。 How
much more truly might this be said of the men who have made their
mark in the world's history； and have created for us that great
inheritance of civilization of which we are the possessors！
Whatever relates to such mento their habits； their manners；
their modes of living； their personal history； their conversation；
their maxims； their virtues； or their greatnessis always full
of interest； of instruction； of encouragement； and of example。
The great lesson of Biography is to show what man can be and do at
his best。 A noble life put fairly on record acts like an
inspiration to others。 It exhibits what life is capable of being
made。 It refreshes our spirit； encourages our hopes； gives us new
strength and courage and faithfaith in others as well as in
ourselves。 It stimulates our aspirations； rouses us to action；
and incites us to become co…partners with them in their work。
To live with such men in their biographies； and to be inspired
by their example； is to live with the best of men； and to mix
in the best of company。
At the head of all biographies stands the Great Biography； the
Book of Books。 And what is the Bible； the most sacred and
impressive of all booksthe educator of youth； the guide of
manhood； and the consoler of agebut a series of biographies of
great heroes and patriarchs； prophets； kings； and judges；
culminating in the greatest biography of all； the Life embodied in
the New Testament？ How much have the great examples there set
forth done for mankind！ How many have drawn from them their
truest strength； their highest wisdom； their best nurture and
admonition！ Truly does a great Roman Catholic writer describe the
Bible as a book whose words 〃live in the ear like a music that can
never be forgottenlike the sound of church bells which the
convert hardly knows how he can forego。 Its felicities often seem
to be almost things rather than mere words。 It is part of the
national mind； and the anchor of national seriousness。 The memory
of the dead passes into it； The potent traditions of childhood are
stereotyped in its verses。 The power of all the griefs and trials
of man is hidden beneath its words。 It is the representative of
his best moments； and all that has been about him of soft； and
gentle； and pure； and penitent； and good； speaks to him for ever
out of his English Bible。 It is his sacred thing； which doubt
has never dimmed and controversy never soiled。 In the length
and breadth of the land there is not a Protestant with one
spark of religiousness about him whose spiritual biography
is not in his Saxon Bible。〃 （4）
It would； indeed； be difficult to overestimate the influence which
the lives of the great and good have exercised upon the elevation
of human character。 〃The best biography；〃 says Isaac Disraeli；
〃is a reunion with human existence in its most excellent state。〃
Indeed； it is impossible for one to read the lives of good men；
much less inspired men； without being unconsciously lighted and
lifted up in them； and growing insensibly nearer to what they
thought and did。 And even the lives of humbler persons； of men of
faithful and honest spirit； who have done their duty in life well；
are not without an elevating influence upon the character of those
who come after them。
History itself is best studied in biography。 Indeed； history is
biographycollective humanity as influenced and governed by
individual men。 〃What is all history；〃 says Emerson； 〃but the
work of ideas； a record of the incomparable energy which his
infinite aspirations infuse into man？〃 In its pages it is always
persons we see more than principles。 Historical events are
interesting to us mainly in connection with the feelings； the
sufferings； and interests of those by whom they are accomplished。
In history we are surrounded by men long dead； but whose speech
and whose deeds survive。 We almost catch the sound of their
voices； and what they did constitutes the interest of history。 We
never feel personally interested in masses of men； but we feel and
sympathise with the individual actors； whose biographies afford
the finest and most real touches in all great historical dramas。
Among the great writers of the past； probably the two that have
been most influential in forming the characters of great men of
action and great men of thought； have been Plutarch and Montaigne
the one by presenting heroic models for imitation； the other by
probing questions of constant recurrence in which the human mind
in all ages has taken the deepest interest。 And the works of both
are for the most part cast in a biographic form； their most
striking illustrations consisting in the exhibitions of character
and experience which they contain。
Plutarch's 'Lives；' though written nearly eighteen hundred years
ago； like Homer's 'Iliad；' still holds its ground as the greatest
work of its kind。 It was the favourite book of Montaigne； and to
Englishmen it possesses the special interest of having been
Shakspeare's principal authority in his great classical dramas。
Montaigne pronounced Plutarch to be 〃the greatest master in
that kind of writing〃the biographic； and he declared that
he 〃could no sooner cast an eye upon him but he purloined
either a leg or a wing。〃
Alfieri was first drawn with passion to literature by reading
Plutarch。 〃I read；〃 said he； 〃the lives of Timoleon； Caesar；
Brutus； Pelopidas； more than six times； with cries； with tears；
and with such transports； that I was almost furious。。。。 Every time
that I met with one of the grand traits of these great men； I was
seized with such vehement agitation as to be unable to sit still。〃
Plutarch was also a favourite with persons of such various minds
as Schiller and Benjamin Franklin； Napoleon and Madame Roland。
The latter was so fascinated by the book that she carried it to
church with her in the guise of a missal； and read it
surreptitiously during the service。
It has also been the nurture of heroic souls such as Henry IV。 of
France； Turenne； and the Napiers。 It was one of Sir William
Napier's favourite books when a boy。 His mind was early imbued by
it with a passi