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He can assume the disguise of virtue or disinterestedness without

having them, or veil personal enmity in the language of

patriotism and philosophy,-he can say the word which all men are

thinking, he has an insight which is terrible into the follies

and weaknesses of his fellow-men. An Alcibiades, a Mirabeau, or a

Napoleon the First, are born either to be the authors of great

evils in states, or 'of great good, when they are drawn in that

direction.'

Yet the thesis, 'corruptio optimi pessima,' cannot be maintained

generally or without regard to the kind of excellence which is

corrupted. The alien conditions which are corrupting to one

nature, may be the elements of culture to another. In general a

man can only receive his highest development in a congenial state

or family, among friends or fellow-workers. But also he may

sometimes be stirred by adverse circumstances to such a degree

that he rises up against them and reforms them.