Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-07-20
DECISION OF CHARACTER.
BY w. MATHEWS.

DECISION OF CHARACTER.
BY W. MATHEWS.
but truism to say that there can
success in life without decision Of
cser. In spite of De Quincey's pro-
We believe that John Foster, in his
rated essay, did not exaggerate the
rsuce of that quality, though we
it is net strictly moral power,
That the most memorable decision is
more closely connected with phys
differences of temperament than with
superiority of mind. Decision of
like vigor of body, is gift OF
It cannot be created by human effort.
nonly be cultivated. It has been truly
That, as resolution, or strength of will
primary power in man, there is no
pr power which can give birth to it,
bis higher power would necessarily
We the existence of the lower that
be produced. But every man has
erm of this qua ity, which can be
sted by favorable circumstances and
YES presented to the mind and by
cd and order in the prosecution of his
or tasks, he may by habit greatly
hent his will-power, and beget a frame
lind so nearly resembling resolution
it would be difficult to distinguish
een the two. Here, as elsewhere,
statures of the perfect man, is at
ID only by slow graduation of travail,
h, effort and patience. The whole
r cannot be put on at once. The first
nv will render the succeeding ones
i, until the very combat will be de-
for the luxury of certain conquest.
angel of martyrdom is brother to
nigel of victory"
b, whether Unborn or acquired, decision
duality vitality important to him who
ID get on in the world. Even brains
econdary in importance to will. A vac
ling man, no matter what his abilities,
v@iably pushed aside in the race of
by the man of determined will. 1t is
no resolves to succeed, and who at
fresh rebuff begins resolutely again,
reaches the goal The shores OF
hne are covered with the stranded
Eks of brilliant ability, but who have
ted courage, faith and decision, and
therefore, persisted in sight of more
lutte but less capable Adventures, who
eedea in making port. Hundreds OF
20 to their graves in obscurity, who
J been obscure only because they
led the pluck to make first effort;
who, could they have only resolved
egin. would have astonished the world
heir achievements and successes. The
is, as Sydney Smith has well said ::
bat, in order to do anything in this
I'D that is worth doing, We must not
ID shivering on the bank, and thinking
be cold and the danger, but jump In
scramble through as well as we can.
bill not do to be perpetually calculat-
and adjusting nice chances; it did all
! we'll before the food, when man
d consult his friends upon an intended
|lication for a hundred and fifty years,
then live to see its success for six or
fn centuries afterwards; but at present
an waits, and doubts, and hesitates, and
suits his brother, and his uncle, and
first cousins, and his particular friends
one day he finds that he is sixty five
rs of age-that he has lost 50 much
e In consulting first cousins and partic
friends, that he has no more time to
bw their advice" The world was not
e for slow, squeamish, fastidious men,
for those who act instantaneOusly and
b power. Obstacles and perplexities
~ man must meet, and he must either
mptly conquer them, or they will con-
him. 1t is rarely that the comparative
p and evil of different modes of action
equally balanced; and he who would
fnything to the purpose in this world,
1ld perceive the slightest inclination OF
beam with an eagles glance.
has been truthfully said that the great
Pal victories and defeats of the world
n turn on minutes. Fortune is pro-
pially tickle jade, and there is moth
like promptness of action--the timing
fhings at the lucky moment-to force
to surrender her favOrs. Crises come,
selling of which is triumph, the neg.
OF which is ruin. This is particularly
on the field of battle. Nearly every
Pie turns ON one or two rapid move
pts, executed amid the whirl of smoke
thunder of guns that jar the solid
Pc. 1t was at such moments that the
eus OF Napoleon shone forth with the
Phtest lustre. His mind acted like the
lining, and never with more prompt
and precision than in moments OF
Ptest confusion and danger. What con-
eded others only stimulated him. He
J 70 say that one of the principal re-
ptes of general is an accurate calcu-
pm Of time; for, If your adversary can
% . powerful force to attack certain
sen minutes sooner than you can bring
SUFFICIENT supporting force, You are
zen, even though oil the rest Of your
e be the most perfect that can be de-
q. At ArcolA he saw that the battle