Nothing is more common than to hear the study of physiognomy condemned
as being calculated to mislead men in their judgments of each other, and
the impossibility of its being reduced to a science; yet, nothing is
more universally prevalent, in all classes of society, than forming
judgments from the appearances of the face. How often do we hear these
observations--“He has an open countenance”--“His countenance is
forbidding”--“That man has an honest face”--“His looks are enough for
me”--“Rogue is depicted in his countenance,” “That bewitching
eye”--“That stupid face,” and many other expressions of the kind. This
proves that, although differences of opinion may be entertained
respecting physiognomy, all men are, in the true signification of the
term, physiognomists. We shall here proceed to point out some of its
advantages.
Whether a more certain, more accurate, more extensive, and thereby, a
more perfect knowledge of man, be, or be not profitable; whether it be,
or be not, advantageous to gain a knowledge of internal qualities from
external form and feature, is certainly a question deserving of inquiry.
It may be asked, Is knowledge, its extension and increase, of
consequence to man? This question, it is presumed, can receive but one
answer from all unprejudiced persons: for, as certainly as man is
possessed of corporeal strength, so certain is it that to exercise
strength is necessary. As certainly as he has the faculties, power, and
will, to love, so certain is it that it is necessary he should love.
Equally certain is it, that if man has the faculties, power, and will,
to obtain wisdom, that he should exercise those faculties for the
attainment of wisdom.
Mutual intercourse is the thing of most consequence to mankind, who are
destined to live in society. The knowledge of man is the soul of this
intercourse--that which imparts to it animation, pleasure, and profit.
This knowledge is, in some degree, inseparable from, because necessary
to, all men. And how shall we, with greater ease and certainty, acquire
this knowledge than by the aid of physiognomy, understood in its most
extensive sense, since, in so many of his actions, man is
incomprehensible?
Physiognomy unites hearts, and forms the most durable, the most divine
friendships; nor can friendship discover a more solid foundation than in
the fair outlines and noble features of certain countenances.
Physiognomy is the very soul of wisdom, since it elevates the mutual
pleasures of intercourse, and whispers to the heart when it is necessary
to speak--when to be silent; when to forewarn--when to excite; when to
console--when to reprehend.
But to enumerate all the advantages that are derived from the study of
physiognomy would require a volume. We shall, therefore, conclude these
prefatory remarks by adding testimonies, from the highest authorities,
in favour of that science, which Lavater, in his essay, introduces in
the following manner:
“To support the feeble among my readers, and to furnish the strong
with such arguments as are most convenient to their disputes with
the feeble, I shall produce witnesses, of more or less importance
among the learned and wise, in the company of whom I shall deem it
an honour to be despised. They will be few, and not conclusive;
but, however, may to many appear of consequence, and be unexpected:
“The countenance of the wise sheweth wisdom, but the eyes of a fool
are in the ends of the earth.”--PROV. xvii. 24.
“Though the wicked man constrain his countenance, the wise can
distinctly discern his purpose.”--PROV. xxi. 29.
“The heart of man changeth his countenance, whether it be for good
or evil; and a merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance.”--ECCL.
xiii. 25.
“A man may be known by his look; and one that hath understanding,
by his countenance, when thou meetest him.”--ECCL. xix. 29.
“We know that nothing passes in the soul which does not produce
some change in the body; and particularly, that no desire, no act
of willing, is exerted by the soul without some corresponding
motion, at the same time, taking place in the body. All changes of
the soul originate in the soul’s essence, and all changes in the
body in the body’s essence. The body’s essence consists in the
conformation of its members; therefore, the conformation of the
body, according to its form, and the form of its constituent
members, must correspond with the essence of the soul. In like
manner must the varieties of the mind be displayed in the varieties
of the body. Hence, the body must contain something in itself, and
in its form, as well as in the form of its parts, by which an
opinion may be deduced concerning the native qualities of the mind.
I repeat, native qualities; for the question here does not concern
those qualities derived from education, or by instructive
conversation. Thus considered, the art of judging man by the form
of his members, and of his whole body, usually called physiognomy,
is well founded.
“The lines of the countenance constitute its expression; which
expression is always true when the mind is free from constraint:
these lines, therefore, must discover what the natural inclinations
are, when seen in their true and native position.”--WOLF.
“What is the fairest countenance, disfigured by the hateful vices
of lust, anger, falsehood, envy, avarice, pride, and discontent?
What can external marks of decorum effect when an ignoble and
insignificant mind is depicted in the countenance? The most certain
means of rendering the face beautiful, is to beautify the mind, and
to purify it from vice. He who would make his countenance
intelligent must so first make his mind. He who would impart to the
face its most fascinating charms, must store the mind with religion
and virtue, which will diffuse over it every expression of sublime
content.”--GILLERT.
“Where is the hand that shall grasp that which resides beneath the
skull of man? Who shall approach the surface of that now tranquil,
now tempestuous, abyss! Like as the Deity has ever been adored in
sacred groves, so is the Lebanon, the Olympus of man, that seat of
the secret power of the divinity, overshadowed. We shudder at
contemplating the powers contained in so small a circumference, by
which a world may be enlightened, or a world destroyed.
“Through those two inlets of soul, the eye and ear, how wonderful
are the worlds of light and sound, the words and images that find
entrance!
“How significant are the descending locks that shade this mountain,
this seat of the gods! their luxuriance, their partition, their
intermingling!
“The head is elevated upon the neck. Olympus resting upon an
eminence in which are united freedom and strength, compression and
elasticity, descriptive of the present and the future. The neck it
is that expresses, not what man was originally, but what he is, by
habit or accident, become; whether erect in defence of freedom,
stretched forth and curbed in token of patient suffering, rising a
Herculean pillar of fortitude, or sinking between the shoulders,
the image of degradation; still it is incontestably expressive of
character, action, and truth.
“Let us proceed to the countenance, in which shine forth mind and
divinity.
“On the front appear light and gloom, joy and anxiety, stupidity,
ignorance, and vice. On this brazen table are deeply engraved every
combination of sense and soul. I can conceive no spectator to whom
the forehead can appear uninteresting. Here all the graces revel,
or all the Cyclops thunder! Nature has left it bare, that, by it,
the countenance may be enlightened or darkened.
“At its lowest extremities, thought appears to be changed into act.
The mind here collects the powers of resistance. Here reside the
_cornua addita pauperi_. Here headlong obstinacy and wise
perseverance take up their fixed abode.
“Beneath the forehead are its beauteous confines the eyebrows; a
rainbow of promise, when benignant; and the bent bow of discord,
when enraged; alike descriptive, in each case, of interior feeling.
“I know not any thing which can give more pleasure, to an accurate
observer, than a distinct and perfectly arched eyebrow.
“The nose imparts solidity and unity to the whole countenance. It
is the mountain that shelters the fair vales beneath. How
descriptive of mind and character are its various parts; the
insertion, the ridge, the cartilage, the nostrils, through which
life is inhaled!
“The eyes, considered only as tangible objects, are by their form
the windows of the soul, the fountains of light and life. Mere
feeling would discover that their size and globular shape are not
unmeaning. The eye-bone, whether gradually sunken, or boldly
prominent, equally is worthy of attention; as likewise are the
temples, whether hollow or smooth. That region of the face which
includes the eyebrows, eye, and nose, also includes the chief
signs of soul; that is, of will, or mind, in action.
“The occult, the noble, the sublime, sense of hearing, has nature
placed sideways, and half concealed. Man ought not to listen
entirely from motives of complaisance to others, but of information
to himself; and, however perfect this organ of sensation may be, it
is devoid of ornament; or, rather, delicacy, depth, and expansion,
are its only ornaments.
“I now come to the inferior part of the face, on which nature
bestowed a mask for the male; and, in my opinion, not without
reason. Here are displayed those marks of sensuality which ought to
be hidden. All know how much the upper lip betokens the sensations
of taste, desire, appetite, and the enjoyments of love; how much it
is curved by pride and anger, drawn thin by cunning, smoothed by
benevolence, made flaccid by effeminacy; how love and desire, sighs
and kisses, cling to it, by indescribable traits. The under lip is
little more than its supporter, the rosy cushion on which the crown
of majesty reposes. If the parts of any two bodies can be
pronounced to be exactly adapted to each other, such are the lips
of man, when the mouth is closed.
“It is exceedingly necessary to observe the arrangement of the
teeth, and the circular conformation of the cheeks. The chaste and
delicate mouth is, perhaps, one of the first recommendations to be
met with in the common intercourse of life. Words are the pictures
of the mind. We judge of the host by the portal. He holds the
flaggon of truth, of love, and endearing friendship.
“The chin is formed by the under lip, and the termination of the
jaw-bones. If I may speak figuratively, it is the picture of
sensuality, in man, according as it is more or less flexible,
smooth, or carbuncled: it discovers what his rank is among his
fellows. The chin forms the oval of the countenance; and when, as
in the antique statues of the Greeks, it is neither pointed nor
indented, but smooth, and gradually diminishes, it is then the
key-stone of the super-structure. A deformity in the chin is indeed
much to be dreaded.”--HERDER.