Coleridge says, “In politics what begins in fear usually ends in folly.”
He might have gone farther, and added: In morals what begins in fear usually ends in wickedness. In religion what begins in fear usually ends in fanaticism. Fear, either as a principle or a motive, is the beginning of all evil.
“Talent lying in the understanding is often inherited; genius, being the action of reason and imagination, rarely or never.”
There seems confusion here, for genius lies not in the amount of intellect—it is a quality of the intellect apart from quantity. And the distinction between talent and genius is definite. Talent combines and uses; genius combines and creates.
Of Sara Coleridge, Mr. Kenyon said very truly and beautifully, “that like her father she had the controversial _intellect_ without the controversial _spirit_.”
We all remember the famous _bon mot_ of Talleyrand. When seated between Madame de Staël and Madame Récamier, and pouring forth gallantry, first at the feet of one, then of the other, Madame de Staël suddenly asked him if she and Madame Récamier fell into the river, which of the two he would save first? “Madame,” replied Talleyrand, “je crois que vous savez nager!” Now we will match this pretty _bon mot_ with one far prettier, and founded on it. Prince S., whom I knew formerly, was one day loitering on the banks of the Isar, in the English garden at Munich, by the side of the beautiful Madame de V., then the object of his devoted admiration. For a while he had been speaking to her of his mother, for whom, _vaurien_ as he was, he had ever shown the strongest filial love and respect. Afterwards, as they wandered on, he began to pour forth his soul to the lady of his love with all the eloquence of passion. Suddenly she turned and said to him, “If your mother and myself were both to fall into this river, whom would you save first?” “My mother!” he instantly replied; and then, looking at her expressively, immediately added, “To save _you_ first would be as if I were to save _myself_ first!”
If we were not always bringing ourselves into comparison with others, we should know them better.
There are ways of governing every mind which lies within the circle described by our own; the only question is, whether the means required be such as we _can_ use? and if so, whether we shall think it right to do so?