Chapter III: Ambition and Self-Esteem (3)

Loyal to his people
A brother to his fellows
A man of truth
A helpful and dependable brother
A lover of nature
Obedient to the orders of his leaders
Joyful and gay
Economical and generous
A man of courage
Pure in thoughts, words, and deeds (opposition to drinking,
smoking and sexual relationships).]

[Footnote 3361: Balzac has closely studied and admirably portrayed this type in a "Ménage de Garçon."--See other similar characters in Mérimée ("Les Mécontens," and "les Espagnols en Danemark"); in Stendhal ("le Chasseur vert"). I knew five or six of them in my youth.]

[Footnote 3362: Words of Marshal Marmont: "So long as he declared 'Everything for France,' I served him enthusiastically; when he said, 'France and myself' I served him zealously; when he said, 'myself and France,' I served him with devotion. It is only when he said, 'Myself without France,' that I left him."]

[Footnote 3363: An expression found by Joseph de Maistre.]

[Footnote 3364: An expression heard by Mickiewicz in his childhood.]

[Footnote 3365: These sums are given, the former by Mérimée and the latter by Sainte--Beuve.]

[Footnote 3366: M. de Champagny "Souvenirs," III., 183. Napoleon, passing his marshals in review, said to him (1811): "None of them can take my place in the command of my armies; some are without the talent, and others would carry on war for their own benefit. Didn't that burly Soult want to be king of Portugal?" "Well, sire, war need not be carried on any longer." "Yes, but how maintain my army? And I must have an army."]

[Footnote 3367: "Souvenirs", by PASQUIER (Etienne-Dennis, duc), chancelier de France. in VI volumes, Librarie Plon, Paris 1893. IV., 112. (According to the papers of Savary, many of Napoleon's letters and statements by M. de Saint-Aignan.)]

[Footnote 3368: "Mémorial," Aug.26, 1816.]

[Footnote 3369: The driving motor of unlimited capitalism as well, a driving force only to be tempered by the law and by a desire for social admiration of different kinds. (SR.)]

[Footnote 3370: "Travels in France during the years 1814 and 1815." (Edinburgh, 1816, 2 vols.)--The author, a very good observer, thus sums up the principle of the system: "To give active employment to all men of talent and enterprise." There is no other condition: "Birth, education, moral character were completely set aside."--Hence the general defect of the system. "The French have literally no idea of any duties which they must voluntarily, without the prospect of reward, undertake for their country. It never enters their heads that a man may be responsible for the neglect of those public duties for the performance of which he receives no regular salary."]

BOOK FOURTH. DEFECT AND EFFECTS OF THE SYSTEM.