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misfortune of worthy people that they are cowards； _〃un des plus
grands malheurs des honnetes gens c'est qu'ils sont des lafaches。〃_
There must be a fusion of these two to generate the energy of will。
There can be no driving force； except through the conversion of the
man into his will； making him the will； and the will him。 And one
may say boldly； that no man has a right perception of any truth； who
has not been reacted on by it； so as to be ready to be its martyr。
The one serious and formidable thing in nature is a will。
Society is servile from want of will； and therefore the world wants
saviours and religions。 One way is right to go： the hero sees it；
and moves on that aim； and has the world under him for root and
support。 He is to others as the world。 His approbation is honor；
his dissent； infamy。 The glance of his eye has the force of
sunbeams。 A personal influence towers up in memory only worthy； and
we gladly forget numbers； money； climate； gravitation； and the rest
of Fate。
We can afford to allow the limitation； if we know it is the
meter of the growing man。 We stand against Fate； as children stand
up against the wall in their father's house； and notch their height
from year to year。 But when the boy grows to man； and is master of
the house； he pulls down that wall； and builds a new and bigger。
'Tis only a question of time。 Every brave youth is in training to
ride and rule this dragon。 His science is to make weapons and wings
of these passions and retarding forces。 Now whether； seeing these
two things； fate and power； we are permitted to believe in unity？
The bulk of mankind believe in two gods。 They are under one dominion
here in the house； as friend and parent； in social circles； in
letters； in art； in love； in religion： but in mechanics； in dealing
with steam and climate； in trade； in politics； they think they come
under another； and that it would be a practical blunder to transfer
the method and way of working of one sphere； into the other。 What
good； honest； generous men at home； will be wolves and foxes on
change！ What pious men in the parlor will vote for what reprobates
at the polls！ To a certain point； they believe themselves the care
of a Providence。 But； in a steamboat； in an epidemic； in war； they
believe a malignant energy rules。
But relation and connection are not somewhere and sometimes；
but everywhere and always。 The divine order does not stop where
their sight stops。 The friendly power works on the same rules； in
the next farm； and the next planet。 But； where they have not
experience； they run against it； and hurt themselves。 Fate； then； is
a name for facts not yet passed under the fire of thought； for
causes which are unpenetrated。
But every jet of chaos which threatens to exterminate us； is
convertible by intellect into wholesome force。 Fate is unpenetrated
causes。 The water drowns ship and sailor； like a grain of dust。 But
learn to swim； trim your bark； and the wave which drowned it； will be
cloven by it； and carry it； like its own foam； a plume and a power。
The cold is inconsiderate of persons； tingles your blood； freezes a
man like a dew…drop。 But learn to skate； and the ice will give you a
graceful； sweet； and poetic motion。 The cold will brace your limbs
and brain to genius； and make you foremost men of time。 Cold and sea
will train an imperial Saxon race； which nature cannot bear to lose；
and； after cooping it up for a thousand years in yonder England；
gives a hundred Englands； a hundred Mexicos。 All the bloods it shall
absorb and domineer： and more than Mexicos； the secrets of water
and steam； the spasms of electricity； the ductility of metals； the
chariot of the air； the ruddered balloon are awaiting you。
The annual slaughter from typhus far exceeds that of war； but
right drainage destroys typhus。 The plague in the sea…service from
scurvy is healed by lemon juice and other diets portable or
procurable： the depopulation by cholera and small…pox is ended by
drainage and vaccination； and every other pest is not less in the
chain of cause and effect； and may be fought off。 And； whilst art
draws out the venom； it commonly extorts some benefit from the
vanquished enemy。 The mischievous torrent is taught to drudge for
man： the wild beasts he makes useful for food； or dress； or labor；
the chemic explosions are controlled like his watch。 These are now
the steeds on which he rides。 Man moves in all modes； by legs of
horses； by wings of wind； by steam； by gas of balloon； by
electricity； and stands on tiptoe threatening to hunt the eagle in
his own element。 There's nothing he will not make his carrier。
Steam was； till the other day； the devil which we dreaded。
Every pot made by any human potter or brazier had a hole in its
cover； to let off the enemy； lest he should lift pot and roof； and
carry the house away。 But the Marquis of Worcester； Watt； and Fulton
bethought themselves； that； where was power； was not devil； but was
God； that it must be availed of； and not by any means let off and
wasted。 Could he lift pots and roofs and houses so handily？ he was
the workman they were in search of。 He could be used to lift away；
chain； and compel other devils； far more reluctant and dangerous；
namely； cubic miles of earth； mountains； weight or resistance of
water； machinery； and the labors of all men in the world； and time he
shall lengthen； and shorten space。
It has not fared much otherwise with higher kinds of steam。
The opinion of the million was the terror of the world； and it was
attempted； either to dissipate it； by amusing nations； or to pile it
over with strata of society； a layer of soldiers； over that； a
layer of lords； and a king on the top； with clamps and hoops of
castles； garrisons； and police。 But； sometimes； the religious
principle would get in； and burst the hoops； and rive every mountain
laid on top of it。 The Fultons and Watts of politics； believing in
unity； saw that it was a power； and； by satisfying it； （as justice
satisfies everybody；） through a different disposition of society；
grouping it on a level； instead of piling it into a mountain； they
have contrived to make of his terror the most harmless and energetic
form of a State。
Very odious； I confess； are the lessons of Fate。 Who likes to
have a dapper phrenologist pronouncing on his fortunes？ Who likes to
believe that he has hidden in his skull； spine； and pelvis； all the
vices of a Saxon or Celtic race； which will be sure to pull him down；
with what grandeur of hope and resolve he is fired； into a
selfish； huckstering； servile； dodging animal？ A learned physician
tells us； the fact is invariable with the Neapolitan； that； when
mature； he assumes the forms of the unmistakable scoundrel。 That is
a little overstated； but may pass。
But these are magazines and arsenals。 A