Alexander : a history of the origin and growth of the art of war from ...

QUALITIES OF THE CAPTAIN. 657this exceptional power of activity wanes, the captain hascome to a term of his greatness. Genius has been describedas an extraordinary capacity for hard work. But tliis capacityis but the human element. Genius implies the divinespark.It is the personality of the great captain which makeshim \^hat he is. The maxims of war are but a meaning-lesspage to him who cannot apply them. They are helpful justso far as the man's brain and heart, as his individualit}^ cancarry them. It is because a great captain must first of allbe a great man, and because to the lot ofbut few great menbelongs the peculiar ability, or falls the opportunity of beinggreat captains, that preeminent success in war is so rarelyseen.All great soldiers are cousins-german in equipment ofheart and head. No man ever was, no man can by anypossibility blunder into being, a great soldier without themost generous virtues ofthe soul, and the most distinguishedpowers of the intellect. The former are independence, selfreliance,ambition within proper bounds ; that sort of physicalbravery which not only does not know fear, but which isnot even conscious that there is such a thing as courage ;thatgreater moral quality which can hold the lives of tens ofthousands of men and the destinies of a great country orcause patiently, intelligently and unflinchingly in his grasj)powers of endurance which cannot be overtaxed ; the unconscioushabit ofruling men and of commanding their love andadmiration, coupled with the ability to stir their enthusiasmto the yielding of their last ounce of effort. The latter comprisebusiness capacity of the very highest order, essential tothe care of his troops ;keen perceptions, which even in extraordinarycircumstances or sudden emergencies are not to beled astray ; the ability to think as quickly and accurately inthe turmoil of battle as in the quiet of the bureau ; the power