Chapter 4

           

           Havingabandonedtheconceptionoftheancientsastothedivinesubjectionofthewillofanationtosomechosenmanandthesubjectionofthatman’swilltotheDeity,historycannotwithoutcontradictionstakeasinglesteptillithaschosenoneoftwothings:eitherareturntotheformerbeliefinthedirectinterventionoftheDeityinhumanaffairsoradefiniteexplanationofthemeaningoftheforceproducinghistoricaleventsandtermed“power.”

           Areturntothefirstisimpossible,thebeliefhasbeendestroyed;andsoitisessentialtoexplainwhatismeantbypower.

           Napoleonorderedanarmytoberaisedandgotowar.Wearesoaccustomedtothatideaandhavebecomesousedtoitthatthequestion:whydidsixhundredthousandmengotofightwhenNapoleonutteredcertainwords,seemstoussenseless.Hehadthepowerandsowhatheorderedwasdone.

           ThisreplyisquitesatisfactoryifwebelievethatthepowerwasgivenhimbyGod.Butassoonaswedonotadmitthat,itbecomesessentialtodeterminewhatisthispowerofonemanoverothers.

           Itcannotbethedirectphysicalpowerofastrongmanoveraweakone—adominationbasedontheapplicationorthreatofphysicalforce,likethepowerofHercules;norcanitbebasedontheeffectofmoralforce,asintheirsimplicitysomehistoriansthinkwhosaythattheleadingfiguresinhistoryareheroes,thatis,mengiftedwithaspecialstrengthofsoulandmindcalledgenius.

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