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and are led out solemnly every morning to parade； the most
admirable is this by which we are brought to believe that events are
arbitrary； and independent of actions。 At the conjuror's； we detect
the hair by which he moves his puppet； but we have not eyes sharp
enough to descry the thread that ties cause and effect。
Nature magically suits the man to his fortunes； by making these
the fruit of his character。 Ducks take to the water； eagles to the
sky； waders to the sea margin； hunters to the forest； clerks to
counting…rooms； soldiers to the frontier。 Thus events grow on the
same stem with persons； are sub…persons。 The pleasure of life is
according to the man that lives it； and not according to the work or
the place。 Life is an ecstasy。 We know what madness belongs to
love； what power to paint a vile object in hues of heaven。 As
insane persons are indifferent to their dress； diet； and other
accommodations； and； as we do in dreams； with equanimity； the most
absurd acts； so； a drop more of wine in our cup of life will
reconcile us to strange company and work。 Each creature puts forth
from itself its own condition and sphere； as the slug sweats out its
slimy house on the pear…leaf； and the woolly aphides on the apple
perspire their own bed； and the fish its shell。 In youth； we clothe
ourselves with rainbows； and go as brave as the zodiac。 In age； we
put out another sort of perspiration； gout； fever； rheumatism；
caprice； doubt； fretting； and avarice。
A man's fortunes are the fruit of his character。 A man's
friends are his magnetisms。 We go to Herodotus and Plutarch for
examples of Fate； but we are examples。 _〃Quisque suos patimur
manes。〃_ The tendency of every man to enact all that is in his
constitution is expressed in the old belief； that the efforts which
we make to escape from our destiny only serve to lead us into it： and
I have noticed； a man likes better to be complimented on his
position； as the proof of the last or total excellence； than on his
merits。
A man will see his character emitted in the events that seem to
meet； but which exude from and accompany him。 Events expand with the
character。 As once he found himself among toys； so now he plays a
part in colossal systems； and his growth is declared in his ambition；
his companions； and his performance。 He looks like a piece of luck；
but is a piece of causation； the mosaic； angulated and ground to
fit into the gap he fills。 Hence in each town there is some man who
is； in his brain and performance； an explanation of the tillage；
production； factories； banks； churches； ways of living； and society；
of that town。 If you do not chance to meet him； all that you see
will leave you a little puzzled： if you see him； it will become
plain。 We know in Massachusetts who built New Bedford； who built
Lynn； Lowell； Lawrence； Clinton； Fitchburg； Holyoke； Portland； and
many another noisy mart。 Each of these men； if they were
transparent； would seem to you not so much men； as walking cities；
and； wherever you put them； they would build one。
History is the action and reaction of these two； Nature and
Thought； two boys pushing each other on the curb…stone of the
pavement。 Everything is pusher or pushed： and matter and mind are in
perpetual tilt and balance； so。 Whilst the man is weak； the earth
takes up him。 He plants his brain and affections。 By and by he will
take up the earth； and have his gardens and vineyards in the
beautiful order and productiveness of his thought。 Every solid in
the universe is ready to become fluid on the approach of the mind；
and the power to flux it is the measure of the mind。 If the wall
remain adamant； it accuses the want of thought。 To a subtler force；
it will stream into new forms； expressive of the character of the
mind。 What is the city in which we sit here； but an aggregate of
incongruous materials； which have obeyed the will of some man？ The
granite was reluctant； but his hands were stronger； and it came。
Iron was deep in the ground； and well combined with stone； but could
not hide from his fires。 Wood； lime； stuffs； fruits； gums； were
dispersed over the earth and sea； in vain。 Here they are； within
reach of every man's day…labor； what he wants of them。 The whole
world is the flux of matter over the wires of thought to the poles or
points where it would build。 The races of men rise out of the ground
preoccupied with a thought which rules them； and divided into parties
ready armed and angry to fight for this metaphysical abstraction。
The quality of the thought differences the Egyptian and the Roman；
the Austrian and the American。 The men who come on the stage at one
period are all found to be related to each other。 Certain ideas are
in the air。 We are all impressionable； for we are made of them； all
impressionable； but some more than others； and these first express
them。 This explains the curious contemporaneousness of inventions
and discoveries。 The truth is in the air； and the most
impressionable brain will announce it first； but all will announce it
a few minutes later。 So women； as most susceptible； are the best
index of the coming hour。 So the great man； that is； the man most
imbued with the spirit of the time； is the impressionable man； of
a fibre irritable and delicate； like iodine to light。 He feels the
infinitesimal attractions。 His mind is righter than others； because
he yields to a current so feeble as can be felt only by a needle
delicately poised。
The correlation is shown in defects。 Moller； in his Essay on
Architecture； taught that the building which was fitted accurately to
answer its end； would turn out to be beautiful； though beauty had not
been intended。 I find the like unity in human structures rather
virulent and pervasive； that a crudity in the blood will appear in
the argument； a hump in the shoulder will appear in the speech and
handiwork。 If his mind could be seen； the hump would be seen。 If a
man has a seesaw in his voice； it will run into his sentences； into
his poem； into the structure of his fable； into his speculation； into
his charity。 And； as every man is hunted by his own daemon； vexed by
his own disease； this checks all his activity。
So each man； like each plant； has his parasites。 A strong；
astringent； bilious nature has more truculent enemies than the slugs
and moths that fret my leaves。 Such an one has curculios； borers；
knife…worms： a swindler ate him first； then a client； then a quack；
then smooth； plausible gentlemen； bitter and selfish as Moloch。
This correlation really existing can be divined。 If the
threads are there； thought can follow and show them。 Especially when
a soul is quick and docile； as Chaucer sings；
〃Or if the soul of proper kind
Be so perfect as men find；
That it wot what is to come；
And that he warneth all and som