The Secret of Success

Oliver Wendell Holmes, in one of his books, gives the following vivid description of the conflict of spiritedness between two men: "The Koh-i-noor's A nickname for a character in Holmes's book The Professor at the Breakfast-Table, named after a famous diamond. face turned so white with rage that his blue-black mustache and beard looked fearful against it. He grinned with wrath and reached for a drinking glass original: "tumbler", as if he would have thrown its contents at the speaker. The young Marylander fixed his clear, steady eye upon him and laid his hand on his arm—carelessly, almost—but the 'Jewel' felt that he could not move it. It was no use. The youth was his master. In a deadly wrestling match original: "Indian hug"—in which men wrestle with their eyes—the conflict is over in five seconds, but it breaks the spirit of one of them. It is good for seventy years original: "three score years and ten," a biblical term for a full human lifespan, and one trial is enough—it settles the whole matter. It is just like when two roosters original: "feathered songsters of the barnyard", one a bred fighter and the other a common farm bird original: "game and dunghill", come together. After a jump or two at each other and a few sharp kicks, there is an end to it; and it is 'After you, sir original: "monsieur",' with the beaten party in all social relations for the rest of his days."

Fothergill Dr. John Milner Fothergill (1841–1888), a physician and author who wrote about willpower. says: "Emily Brontë sketched out her ideal of a person possessed of immense willpower in a complete ruffian—Heathcliff. A massive, muscular brute! Well, it was a young woman’s conception of a strong man; but I think I have seen some quiet, inoffensive-looking men in spectacles who could very soon have shown the ruffian where the true superiority lay."

A celebrated historical example of Spiritedness, shown under apparently overwhelming odds, is the interview between Hugo, Bishop of Lincoln, and Richard the Lion-Hearted original: "Coeur de Lion" in the church of Roche d’Andeli A historic site in Normandy, France.. In his desire to continue the war in Normandy, Richard demanded additional supplies and money from his barons and bishops, but Hugo refused to furnish men or money. He claimed that although the Diocese original: "See" of Lincoln was legally bound to supply men and money for military service within the four seas of Britain, the war in Normandy did not fall under that requirement, and he defied the king. King Richard was a dangerous man to defy, and so when he summoned Bishop Hugo to Normandy, the bishop went forth to "beard the lion in his den" A metaphor meaning to confront a dangerous person boldly in their own territory.. Few doubted the outcome, and the bishop’s downfall was taken as a certainty.

When the bishop landed in Normandy, he met two friendly barons who informed him that the king was in a terrible rage against him. They advised him to send some humble, peace-offering message to the king before entering the royal presence. But the bishop refused to do this and proceeded boldly to meet his monarch. Richard was sitting at Mass when the bishop entered. Hugo walked up to him and, disregarding his frown, said, "Kiss me, my lord King!" Richard turned wrathfully away, refusing the salute. But Hugo, gazing into his eyes and shaking the royal shoulder vigorously, repeated his demand. "You have original: "Thou hast" not deserved it!" roared the king in anger and embarrassment. "I have," retorted Hugo, shaking the royal shoulder even harder. The king gradually dropped his eyes from those of the bishop and gave the kingly salute and kiss, and the bishop passed on calmly to take part in the service. Hugo afterward defied...