Thetemperofthetranquil-mindednessdiffers，ofcourse，accordingasthepersonisofaconstitutionallysombreorofaconstitutionallycheerfulcastofmind。Inthesombreitpartakesmoreofresignationandsubmission；inthecheerfulitisajoyousconsent。Asanexampleoftheformertemper，IquotepartofaletterfromProfessorLagneau，aveneratedteacherofphilosophywholatelydied，agreatinvalid，atParis：——
“Mylife，forthesuccessofwhichyousendgoodwishes，willbewhatitisabletobe。Iasknothingfromit，Iexpectnothingfromit。ForlongyearsnowIexist，think，andact，andamworthwhatIamworth，onlythroughthedespairwhichismysolestrengthandmysolefoundation。Mayitpreserveforme，evenintheselasttrialstowhichIamcoming，thecouragetodowithoutthedesireofdeliverance。IasknothingmorefromtheSourcewhenceallstrengthcometh，andifthatisgranted，yourwisheswillhavebeenaccomplished。”[169]
[169]Bulletindel’Unionpourl’ActionMorale，September，1894。
Thereissomethingpatheticandfatalisticaboutthis，butthepowerofsuchatoneasaprotectionagainstoutwardshocksismanifest。PascalisanotherFrenchmanofpessimistic
naturaltemperament。Heexpressesstillmoreamplythetemperofself-surrenderingsubmissiveness：——