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Hereditary Genius
47
to a peculiar category. The qualities most suitable to the ruler of a great
nation, are not such as lead to eminence in private life. Devotion to
particular studies, obstinate perseverance, geniality and frankness in social
relations, are important qualities to make a man rise in the world, but they
are unsuitable to a sovereign. He has to view many interests and opinions
with an equal eye; to know how to yield his favourite ideas to popular
pressure, to be reserved in his friendships and able to stand alone. On the
other hand, a sovereign does not greatly need the intellectual powers that
are essential to the rise of a common man, because the best brains of the
country are at his service. Consequently, I do not busy myself in this
volume with the families of merely able sovereigns; only with those few
whose military and administrative capacity is acknowledged to have been of
the very highest order.
As regards commanders, the qualities that raise a man to a peerage, may
be of a peculiar kind, such as would not have raised him to eminence in
ordinary times. Strategy is as much a speciality as chess playing, and large
practice is required to develop it. It is difficult to see how strategical gifts,
combined with a hardy constitution, dashing courage, and a restless
disposition, can achieve eminence in times of peace. These qualities are
more likely to attract a man to the hunting-field, if he have enough money;
or if not, to make him an unsuccessful speculator. It consequently happens
that generals of high, but not the very highest order, such as Napoleon's
marshals and Cromwell's generals, are rarely found to have eminent
kinsfolk. Very different is the case, with the most illustrious commanders.
They are far more than strategists and men of restless dispositions; they
would have distinguished themselves under any circumstances. Their
kinships are most remarkable, as will be seen in my chapter on
commanders, which includes the names of Alexander, Scipio, Hannibal,
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