When the little Corsican, Napoleon Bonaparte, a feeble youth
at the beginning of his wonderful career, was presented to the
convention of France as the man who could rescue the country
from its peril, the president fixt his eye upon him dubiously
and said: “Are you willing to undertake our defense?” “Yes,”
was the calm and confident reply. “But are you aware of the
magnitude of the undertaking?” asked the president again.
“Fully,” said Napoleon, fixing his piercing eye upon the
questioner, adding, “and I am in the habit of accomplishing that
which I undertake.”
A similar self-confidence has often proved the one great secret of a
successful career.
(2858)
* * * * *
As Napoleon was contemplating one of his great campaigns, his
uncle, Cardinal Fesch, was dissuading him. Napoleon opened the
window, pointed and said:
“Do you see that star?”
Cardinal Fesch said: “No; I see no star.”
Napoleon turned his back upon him and said: “But I see it.”
To see your star whether other men see it or not, whether other
men believe in it or not; to believe in yourself--that may be to
discover that hidden self that is nobler than you have ever been.
(2859)
* * * * *
At one time, skilled artist tho he was, Constable was curiously
ready to make alterations in his pictures to please persons of
very little judgment in the case. At last, however, he rebelled.
He was finishing his famous picture “The Dell,” when he was
beset by an adviser: “Don’t you see,” retorted Constable, “that
I might go on and make this picture so good that it would be
good for nothing.” Being asked on another occasion if a certain
picture on the easel was painted for any particular person, he
replied: “Yes, sir; it is painted for a very particular person,
the person for whom I have all my life painted.” (Text.)
(2860)