IntroductoryNoteThomasCarlylewasbornatEcclefechaninthesouthofScotland，December4，1795。Hisfather，arigorousCalvinistbelongingtotheseceding\"BurgherKirk，\"wasastone—mason，amanofsternanduprightcharacterwithagiftoffieryspeech。Thomasbeganhiseducationathome，wentnexttothevillageschool，thencetothegrammarschoolatAnnan，andin1809walkedtoEdinburgh，ahundredmilesaway，andenteredtheUniversitywithaviewtopreparingfortheministry。Onfinishinghisartscourse，hewasappointedmathematicalusheratAnnanandtwoyearslateratKirkcaldy，whereheformedanintimatefriendshipwithEdwardIrving。Buthehatedteaching，and，ashehadabandonedhisorthodoxviewsandcouldnolongerthinkofpreaching，hereturnedtoEdinburghtostudyforthebar，supportinghimselfbyprivatetutoringandwritingforencyclopedias。Theseyears，1819—1822，heregardedasthemostmiserableofhislife。Tormentedwithdyspepsia，tornwithreligiousperplexity，withnoprospectsandnoprofession，hefoundcomfortonlyintheaffectionofhisfamily。ItwasaboutthistimethatthestudyofGermanledhimtoGoethe，whoprovedhischiefaidinhisstrugglestogainspiritualpeace。
ThroughIrvingCarlyleobtainedapositionastutortoCharlesandArthurBulleratasalarythatenabledhimtohelphisfamilyinsubstantialways。Thisengagementlastedfortwoyears，duringwhichhetranslatedLegendre\'s\"Geometry\"andGoethe\'s\"WilhelmMeister，\"andwrotea\"LifeofSchiller。\"
HisrelationwiththeBullersledhimtoLondon，andforashorttimetoParis;
andinhis\"Reminiscences\"wehaveagraphicpictureoftheunfavorableimpressionmadeonhimbyfashionableandliterarysociety。
Henowretiredtoafarmnearhisfather\'shouse，andspentapeacefulyear，chieflyintranslating。In1826hemarriedJaneBaillieWelsh，thebrilliantandbeautifuldaughterofadoctorinHaddington，whomhehadmetthroughIrving。MissWelshwasdescendedononesidefromJohnKnox，ontheotherfromthegypsies，and，itwasclaimed，WilliamWallace;andhertemperamentdidnotbelieherancestry。Shehadbeenmuchcourted，andherwooingbyCarlylewasasominousasitwasextraordinary。Overtheirsubsequentdomesticrelationstherehasbeenavastamountofunseemlycontroversy，noonecondemningCarlylemoreseverelythanhedidhimself。Yetitmaybearguedthattheyfoundintheirmarriageasmuchsatisfactionaseitherofthemwascapableoffindinginweddedlife。Carlyle\'sabsorptioninhisworkandhiscareerundoubtedlyledtomuchneglectandsufferingonthepartofhiswife，butitisclearthattheexpressionsofremorseinhiswritingsafterherdeatharenotfairlytobetakenasjudicialevidenceagainsthim。
Forthefirsteighteenmonthsaftermarriage，theCarlyleslivedinEdinburgh，wheretheysharedinthemostdistinguishedintellectualsocietyofthecity，andwhereCarlyleformedwithFrancisJeffreyapleasantandusefulrelation。
Jeffreyacceptedarticlesforthe\"EdinburghReview，\"andtheirsuccessthereopenedtoCarlylethepagesofotherperiodicals。ThefirsttworeviewswereonRichterandonGermanLiterature，which，withhistranslationsandlaterwritingsinthesamefield，gainedhimrecognitionasapioneerofGermanliteratureinEngland，andbroughthimgenerouspersonalacknowledgmentsfromGoethe。
Inspiteofthesesuccesses，thefinancialaffairsoftheCarlyleswerestillfarfromsatisfactory，andtoreduceexpensestheyretreatedtothefarmofCraigenputtock，whichbelongedtoMrs。Carlyle。Heretheylivedformorethansixyears，inanisolationbrokenonlybyoccasionalvisitsfromguests，notableamongwhomweretheJeffreysandEmerson。Itwasherethatthequasi—autobiographical\"SartorResartus\"waswritten，andmoreGermanarticles，themarketforwhich，however，grewdullerandduller。A
visittoLondonin1831，forwhichhehadtoborrowmoneyfromJeffrey，ledtonewrelationswithpublishersandeditors;andfourmonthsinEdinburghbroadenedhisrangeofsubjects。But，finally，solitudeandtheneedofmoneydrovethemtoLondon，wheretheysettledin1834inthehouseinCheyneRow，Chelsea，wheretheylivedfortherestoftheirlives。
ThemostimportanteventoftheearlieryearsoftheLondonperiodwastheripeningofCarlyle\'sfriendshipwithJ。S。Mill。Tothisintercoursewasduehisundertakinghis\"HistoryoftheFrenchRevolution，\"publishedin1837。
Meanwhile，hesucceededingettingsorelyneededfundsbylecturing，givingfourcoursesinsuccessivesprings，thelastofwhichwashiswell—known\"HeroesandHero—worship。\"Theserelievedhimfrompressingnecessities，andwiththerecognitionofthebrilliantqualitiesofhis\"FrenchRevolution\"
cametheturninhisfortunes。Hegainedmanyfriends，amongwhomweresuchmenasJohnSterling，whoselifeheafterwardwastowritewithsympathyandcharm;F。D。Maurice，J。G。Lockhart，R。M。Milnes，afterwardsLordHoughton，andtheBarings;andhewasoftensoughtoutbyyounginquirers。EmersonhadintroducedhisworkstoAmerica，withtheresultofbothfameandprofit。HewasalreadybecominganotedfigureinintellectualcirclesinLondon。
Hispoliticalideaswereputintodefiniteshapeinhis\"Chartism\"（1839），and，ifanyonehadeverdoubtedit，itnowbecameclearthathewasnevertobeclassedwithanyoftheestablishedpoliticalparties。\"PastandPresent，\"
acontrastbetweenmedievalmonasticlifeandmodernconditions，stillfurtheremphasizedhisseparationfrombothToriesandRadicals。Whiletheseshorterworkswerebeingputforth，hewaslaboringonhisnextgreatbook，the\"LifeandLettersofOliverCromwell\";andwhenthisappearedin1845hispositionasoneoftheleadingmenoflettersofthedaywasthoroughlyestablished。
Afterayearortwomainlyoccupiedwithpoliticalwriting，mostofitatoncepowerfulinstyleandineffectiveinresult，hesettleddowntoanothergreattask，alifeofFredericktheGreat，whichoccupiedhismainenergiestill1865，andextendedhisreputationbothontheContinentandathome。InthisyearhewaselectedLordRectorofEdinburghUniversity。TheInauguralAddress，whichconstitutesthesoledutyofthishonoraryoffice，hedeliveredthenextyear;andonhisjourneysouthafteratriumphalreceptionhewasmetatDumfriesbythenewsofhiswife\'sdeath。ShewasburiedintheAbbeyKirkatHaddington;andtheepitaphwhichherhusbandplaceduponhergravetellswhattheblowmeantforhim。Itrunsthus:\"Inherbrightexistenceshehadmoresorrowsthanarecommon，butalsoasoftinvincibility，acapacityofdiscernment，andanobleloyaltyofheartwhicharerare。Forfortyyearsshewasthetrueandlovinghelpmateofherhusband，andbyactandwordunweariedlyforwardedhimasnoneelsecouldinallofworthythathedidorattempted。ShediedatLondon，21stApril，1866，suddenlysnatchedfromhim，andthelightofhislifeasifgoneout。\"
And，indeed，thelightofhislifehadgoneout。Hewashenceforthabrokenman。Herevisedhiscollectedworks，wrotehis\"Reminiscences，\"butundertooknonewtasks。Hewasnowattheheadofhisprofession，andsurroundedbyfriendsandadmirers;honorswereshoweredonhimathomeandabroad;buthelivedinagloomthatdeepenedtotheend。HediedonFebruary4，1881，andwasburiedintheoldkirkyardatEcclefechan。
OftheworksbyCarlylehereprinted，\"Characteristics\"isacondensedandtellingstatementofsomeofhismostfundamentalideas;theessayon\"SirWalterScott\"exhibits，bothinitsstrengthandinitsshortcomings，thedominationofethicaloverestheticconsiderationsinhisestimateofliterature，andcontainsbesidesmanycharacteristicsgeneralizationsonhumanlifeandconduct;the\"InauguralAddress，\"thesubjectofwhichisnominallythe\"ReadingofBooks，\"summarizesrapidlyhisownintellectualhistory，anddigressesintrueCarlyleanfashionintoreligion，ethics，history，andavarietyofothertopics。Itiswritteninanexceptionallysimpleandstraightforwardstyle，admirablysuitedtotheoccasion;thetwootherpapersrepresentmoretrulyhishabitualmannerofexpression—oftenabrupt，oftenexaggerated，sometimesgrotesque，but，tousehisownwordsofhis\"FrenchRevolution，\"
coming\"directandflaminglyfromtheheartofalivingman。\"
Thisstylewas，indeed，highlycharacteristicofitsowner。Theendlesslaborheputintohishistories，thepassionofhispoliticalconvictions，theprofoundearnestnessofhismoralandreligiouspreaching，werecombinedwithathirstforeffectiveexpressionthatledhimtoshatteranyconventionthatstoodinthewayoftruth，andgaveaweightandedgetohisutterancethatmakeitathinguniqueinEnglishliterature。Complexandinconsistenttothepointofparadox，absolutelysincereyetexaggeratedandover—emphatic，violenttobrutalityyettenderofheart，aRadicaltotheToriesandaTorytotheRadicalsCarlyleformednoschool，yetwasoneofthemoststimulatingandpotentinfluencesofhiscentury。Overhischaracterandhismessagethevoicesofcontroversyhavenotyetdieddown，butwhoeverturnstohisworkfindscoursingeverywherethroughittheredbloodofaman。
PartI
Thehealthyknownotoftheirhealth，butonlythesick:thisisthePhysician\'sAphorism;andapplicableinafarwidersensethanhegivesit。Wemaysay，itholdsnolessinmoral，intellectual，political，poetical，thaninmerelycorporealtherapeutics;thatwherever，orinwhatshapesoever，powersofthesortwhichcanbenamedvitalareatwork，hereinliesthetestoftheirworkingrightorworkingwrong。
IntheBody，forexample，asalldoctorsareagreed，thefirstconditionofcompletehealthis，thateachorganperformitsfunction，unconsciously，unheeded;letbutanyorganannounceitsseparateexistence，wereitevenboastfully，andforpleasure，notforpain，thenalreadyhasoneofthoseunfortunate\'falsecentresofsensibility\'establisheditself，alreadyisderangementthere。Theperfectionofbodilywell—beingisthatthecollectivebodilyactivitiesseemone;andbemanifested，moreover，notinthemselves，butintheactiontheyaccomplish。IfaDr。Kitchinerboastthathissystemisinhighorder，DieteticPhilosophymayindeedtakecredit;butthetruePepticianwasthatCountrymanwhoansweredthat，\'forhispart，hehadnosystem。\'
Infact，unity，agreementisalwayssilent，orsoft—voiced;itisonlydiscordthatloudlyproclaimsitself。SolongastheseveralelementsofLife，allfitlyadjusted，canpourforththeirmovementlikeharmonioustunedstrings，itisamelodyandunison;Life，fromitsmysteriousfountains，flowsoutasincelestialmusicanddiapason，—whichalso，likethatothermusicofthespheres，evenbecauseitisperennialandcomplete，withoutinterruptionandwithoutimperfection，mightbefabledtoescapetheear。Thustoo，insomelanguages，isthestateofhealthwelldenotedbyatermexpressingunity;whenwefeelourselvesaswewishtobe，wesaythatwearewhole。
Fewmortals，itistobefeared，arepermanentlyblessedwiththatfelicityof\'havingnosystem\';nevertheless，mostofus，lookingbackonyoungyears，mayrememberseasonsofalight，aerialtranslucencyandelasticityandperfectfreedom;thebodyhadnotyetbecometheprison—houseofthesoul，butwasitsvehicleandimplement，likeacreatureofthethought，andaltogetherplianttoitsbidding。Weknewnotthatwehadlimbs，weonlylifted，hurledandleapt;througheyeandear，andallavenuesofsense，cameclearunimpededtidingsfromwithout，andfromwithinissuedclearvictoriousforce;
westoodasinthecentreofNature，givingandreceiving，inharmonywithitall;unlikeVirgil\'sHusbandmen，\'toohappybecausewedidnotknowourblessedness。\'
Inthosedays，healthandsicknesswereforeigntraditionsthatdidnotconcernus;ourwholebeingwasasyetOne，thewholemanlikeanincorporatedWill。
Such，wereRestorever—successfulLabourthehumanlot，mightourlifecontinuetobe:apure，perpetual，unregardedmusic;abeamofperfectwhitelight，renderingallthingsvisible，butitselfunseen，evenbecauseitwasofthatperfectwhiteness，andnoirregularobstructionhadyetbrokenitintocolours。
ThebeginningofInquiryisDisease:allScience，ifweconsiderwell，asitmusthaveoriginatedinthefeelingofsomethingbeingwrong，soitisandcontinuestobebutDivision，Dismemberment，andpartialhealingofthewrong。
Thus，aswasofoldwritten，theTreeofKnowledgespringsfromarootofevil，andbearsfruitsofgoodandevil。HadAdamremainedinParadise，therehadbeennoAnatomyandnoMetaphysics。
But，alas，asthePhilosopherdeclares，\'Lifeitselfisadisease;aworkingincitedbysuffering\';actionfrompassion！ThememoryofthatfirststateofFreedomandparadisaicUnconsciousnesshasfadedawayintoanidealpoeticdream。Westandheretooconsciousofmanythings:withKnowledge，thesymptomofDerangement，wemustevendoourbesttorestorealittleOrder。
Lifeis，infewinstances，andatrareintervals，thediapasonofaheavenlymelody;oftenestthefiercejarofdisruptionsandconvulsions，which，dowhatwewill，thereisnodisregarding。Nevertheless，suchisstillthewishofNatureonourbehalf;inallvitalaction，hermanifestpurposeandeffortis，thatweshouldbeunconsciousofit，andlikethepepticCountryman，neverknowthatwe\'haveasystem。\'For，indeedvitalactioneverywhereisemphaticallyameans，notanend;LifeisnotgivenusforthemeresakeofLiving，butalwayswithanulteriorexternalAim:neitherisitontheprocess，onthemeans，butratherontheresult，thatNature，isanyofherdoings，iswonttointrustuswithinsightandvolition。Boundlessasisthedomainofman，itisbutasmallfractionalproportionofitthatheruleswithConsciousnessandbyForethought:whathecancontrive，nay，whathecanaltogetherknowandcomprehend，isessentiallythemechanical，small;thegreatisever，inonesenseorother，thevital;itisessentiallythemysterious，andonlythesurfaceofitcanbeunderstood。ButNature，itmightseem，strives，likeakindmother，tohidefromuseventhis，thatsheisamystery:shewillhaveusrestonherbeautifulandawfulbosomasifitwereoursecurehome;onthebottomlessboundlessDeep，whereonallhumanthingsfearfullyandwonderfullyswim，shewillhaveuswalkandbuild，asifthefilmwhichsupportedusthere（whichanyscratchofabarebodkinwillrendasunder，anysputterofapistol—shotinstantaneouslyburnup）werenofilm，butasolidrock—foundation。
ForeverintheneighbourhoodofaninevitableDeath，mancanforgetthatheisborntodie;ofhisLife，which，strictlymeditated，containsinitanImmensityandanEternity，hecanconceivelightly，asofasimpleimplementwherewithtododay—labourandearnwages。SocunninglydoesNature，themotherofallhighestArt，whichonlyapesherfromafar，\'bodyforththeFinitefromtheInfinite\';andguidemansafeonhiswondrouspath，notmorebyendowinghimwithvision，than，attherightplace，withblindness！Underallherworks，chieflyunderhernoblestwork，Life，liesabasisofDarkness，whichshebenignantlyconceals;inLifetoo，therootsandinwardcirculationswhichstretchdownfearfullytotheregionsofDeathandNight，shallnothintoftheirexistence，andonlythefairstemwithitsleavesandflowers，shoneonbythefairsun，shalldiscloseitself，andjoyfullygrow。
However，withoutventuringintotheabstruse，ortooeagerlyaskingWhyandHow，inthingswhereouranswermustneedsprove，ingreatpart，anechoofthequestion，letusbecontenttoremarkfarther，inthemerelyhistoricalway，howthatAphorismofthebodilyPhysicianholdsgoodinquiteotherdepartments。OftheSoul，withheractivities，weshallfinditnolesstruethanoftheBody:nay，crytheSpiritualists，isnotthatverydivisionoftheunity，Man，intoadualismofSoulandBody，itselfthesymptomofdisease;
as，perhaps，yourfrightfultheoryofMaterialism，ofhisbeingbutaBody，andtherefore，atleast，oncemoreaunity，maybetheparoxysmwhichwascritical，andthebeginningofcure！Butomittingthis，weobserve，withconfidenceenough，thatthetrulystrongmind，viewitasIntellect，asMorality，orunderanyotheraspect，isnowisethemindacquaintedwithitsstrength;
thathereasbeforethesignofhealthisUnconsciousness。Inourinward，asinouroutwardworld，whatismechanicalliesopentous:notwhatisdynamicalandhasvitality。OfourThinking，wemightsay，itisbutthemereuppersurfacethatweshapeintoarticulateThoughts;—underneaththeregionofargumentandconsciousdiscourse，liestheregionofmeditation;here，initsquietmysteriousdepths，dwellswhatvitalforceisinus;here，ifaughtistobecreated，andnotmerelymanufacturedandcommunicated，musttheworkgoon。Manufactureisintelligible，buttrivial:Creationisgreat，andcannotbeunderstood。ThusiftheDebaterandDemonstrator，whomwemayrankasthelowestoftruethinkers，knowswhathehasdone，andhowhedidit，theArtist，whomwerankasthehighest，knowsnot;mustspeakofInspiration，andinoneortheotherdialect，callhisworkthegiftofadivinity。
Butonthewhole，\'geniusiseverasecrettoitself\';ofthisoldtruthwehave，onallsides，dailyevidence。TheShakspearetakesnoairsforwritingHamletandtheTempest，understandsnotthatitisanythingsurprising:Milton，again，ismoreconsciousofhisfaculty，whichaccordinglyisaninferiorone。Ontheotherhand，whatcacklingandstruttingmustwenotoftenhearandsee，when，insomeshapeofacademicalprolusion，maidenspeech，reviewarticle，thisortheotherwell—fledgedgoosehasproduceditsgoose—egg，ofquitemeasurablevalue，wereitthepinkofitswholekind;andwonderswhyallmortalsdonotwonder！
Foolishenough，too，wastheCollegeTutor\'ssurpriseatWalterShandy:
how，thoughunreadinAristotle，hecouldneverthelessargue;andnotknowingthenameofanydialectictool，handledthemalltoperfection。IsittheskilfulestanatomistthatcutsthebestfigureatSadler\'sWells？ordoestheboxerhitbetterforknowingthathehasaflexorlongusandaflexorbrevis？
Butindeed，asinthehighercaseofthePoet，sohereinthatoftheSpeakerandInquirer，thetrueforceisanunconsciousone。ThehealthyUnderstanding，weshouldsay，isnottheLogical，argumentative，buttheIntuitive;fortheendofUnderstandingisnottoproveandfindreasons，buttoknowandbelieve。