Johann Caspar Lavater

“ This is the physiognomy of one designed by nature to be a man of business; he does not possess the forehead of a poet, nor of one whose impetuous imagination transcends the barriers of cold reason; but its elevation and roundness at the summit, are proofs of a sedate, cool, and reflecting mind. ”

“ The nose imparts solidity and unity to the whole countenance. It is the mountain that shelters the fair vales beneath. How descriptive of mind and character are its various parts; the insertion, the ridge, the cartilage, the nostrils, through which life is inhaled!
“The eyes, considered only as tangible objects, are by their form the windows of the soul, the fountains of light and life. Mere feeling would discover that their size and globular shape are not unmeaning. The eye-bone, whether gradually sunken, or boldly prominent, equally is worthy of attention ”

“ Mutual intercourse is the thing of most consequence to mankind, who are destined to live in society. The knowledge of man is the soul of this intercourse—that which imparts to it animation, pleasure, and profit. ”

“ Here is a candid, ingenuous, frank, and honest countenance, without the slightest vestige of vice, passion, or intrigue. Great talents are not to be expected, for the shape of the forehead, although it does not deny intelligence, yet evinces no energy, but is indicative of gentleness ”

“ Nothing is more common than to hear the study of physiognomy condemned as being calculated to mislead men in their judgments of each other, and the impossibility of its being reduced to a science; yet, nothing is more universally prevalent, in all classes of society, than forming judgments from the appearances of the face. ”

“ Here we see a countenance that evinces a capacity for great achievements—in which patriotism and heroic virtue, worthy of ancient Rome, are distinguishable; but it must be observed, that although it promises fair, still it marks the man to be liable to the failings of humanity, and often subject to be hurried by violence of passion, and false notions of honour, beyond the bounds of reason. ”

“ What can external marks of decorum effect when an{8} ignoble and insignificant mind is depicted in the countenance? The most certain means of rendering the face beautiful, is to beautify the mind, and to purify it from vice. He who would make his countenance intelligent must so first make his mind. He who would impart to the face its most fascinating charms, must store the mind with religion and virtue, which will diffuse over it every expression of sublime content.”—Gillert. ”

“ The original of this portrait is one who knows how to enjoy life like a wise man; if he is not nice in his pleasures, he, at least, does not carry them to excess. The cast of his mind presupposes gentleness, rather than harshness—dignity, rather than elevation—firmness of character, rather than violence of passion—transient irritation, rather than continued resentment. The eyebrow fully expresses the decree to which a choleric temperament prevails, and the eye is{48} a compound of the melancholic and phlegmatic characters ”

“ Benevolence and probity are depicted on this countenance, which is not that of a man of the world, nor of one subservient to the punctilios of etiquette, and the rules of politeness: for the face, bearing, as it does, the stamp of frankness, seems rather to have the air of a person of inferior rank; and its component features exhibit a kind of muscular strength which is rarely discoverable in the wealthy inhabitants of a great city. ”

“ The attention which the French have, of late, paid to Physiognomy, may be ascribed not only to the infatuating nature, and intrinsic excellence of that science, but, also, to adventitious circumstances. France, or, more properly, its metropolis, has, within a few years, become, as it were, the immense stage on which all the varieties of human aspect and action have been exhibited. ”

“ We know that nothing passes in the soul which does not produce some change in the body; and particularly, that no desire, no act of willing, is exerted by the soul without some corresponding motion, at the same time, taking place in the body. All changes of the soul originate in the soul’s essence, and all changes in the body in the body’s essence. ”

“ Cyrus was extremely well proportioned, and was a lover of the fine arts and of honour. In the pursuit of glory, he willingly submitted to all manner of fatigue, and encountered the greatest dangers. Xenophon speaks of the virtue{133} and warlike achievements of this truly great man. Plutarch relates that Darius was the handsomest and finest looking man of his time, insomuch that Alexander could easily distinguish him in battle. Evagoras’s face expressed honesty; he was so noble minded, brave, temperate, wise, and just, that some thought him to be a genius under the human form. ”

“ Aristotle thus writes to Alexander, respecting the character of man.
Nature has formed him more perfect than all other animals, and still he possesses all the different characters of the latter. He is as bold as the lion, timid as the hare; he can be compared to the cock for his pride and liberality, to the dog for his avarice ”

“ Man, that master-piece, formed by the Creator in his own image, and impressed with the brilliancy of his character—in short, that earthly divinity, was endowed with a strong and loud voice, a large body, and a slow gait. ”

“ Polemon and Adamantius say, that those whose heads are large, beyond proportion, are stupid, and naturally stubborn. Albert says, that the head which is so large as to lean on the shoulder for support, is destitute of sense and wit; and it was Aristotle’s opinion, that when a man’s head is unreasonably large, and out of proportion with{116} the rest of his body, he is of a dull and sluggish disposition. For my part, I compare them to the ass, as being lazy, timid, and impertinent. ”

“ A man’s face displeases them: this is often a sufficient ground for aversion. Prejudices of this nature ought to be exploded, and it behooves the man of science and real philanthropy to remove them. Such was the great design of Lavater, whose profound researches, guided by the desire of being useful to his species, displayed to him the nature of man, and taught him how far the moral character is capable of being traced upon the visage. ”

“ The one was designed as a mirror in which we might behold the other reflected; but the vicious study dissimulation; they endeavour to lock their passions and vices within their own breasts, and, by a virtuous exterior, to conceal the characteristic expression of villany. In vain, however, does hypocrisy tender them her aid: the outward figure and form of the man are forced to a resemblance of the internal model, and the dispositions of the heart are almost invariably depicted on the countenance. These facts were observed and verified, and such was the origin of physiognomy. ”

“ Here is the head of a man well calculated for business; the upper part of his head has great elevation, which is an unerring characteristic of a calculating, deep-thinking mind; his forte lies in those sciences which demand precision, profundity, and unwearied application; he may be a good geometrician, but not a poet—never can he rise to sublimity; his features, however, do not represent the firmness and severity which are so obvious in a subsequent head ”

“ The features which characterise a choleric man are strongly marked; his eye-brows are almost always thick, the end of his nose acute, his eyes very often gray, and always lively, with red lids, and the ball of the eye, starting, as it were, from the head, the upper eyelid rising high, and almost totally disappearing. His nostrils are wide, which show strong respiration; his forehead is covered with irregular protuberances; his blood-vessels are very perceptible,{78} and the colour of his skin varies from yellow to red. The neck of a choleric man is almost always extremely short ”

“ Here are indications of extraordinary genius. The features of this face, the outlines of which are neither too angular nor too rigid, decisively evince great energy; the nose alone is indicative of an exalted mind: the position of the eyebrows, and the gentle projection and jutting of the chin, are characteristic of resolution; and the perfectly happy formation of the forehead displays genius, and designates a character in which reflection and activity are{74} at once combined: he, whose features unite so many marks of greatness, can be no other than a hero.
{75}
21
No. ”

“ But Adamantius justly observes, that foolish persons have large eyeballs, and so have all giddy animals, such as the bull, sheep, &c.
HANDSOME FACES.
The beauty of the face denotes good manners, and those amiable mental qualities from which true politeness proceeds. If it does not entirely satisfy the eye, it has the power, at least, of attracting attention. Beauty is followed by{131} virtue, and repels vice. It is said that Achilles had a handsome visage, and that he was liberal and noble-minded; in war, generous, quick, and merciful. ”

“ According to Aristotle’s opinion on Physiognomy, he whose nose is curved from the root of the forehead, and strongly marked like the beak of an eagle, must be a brave man. It was also observed by Polemon and Adamantius, that such a nose denotes courage; and Albert, upon the authority of Loxus, conveys the same idea. Noses thus formed are commonly distinguished by the term Aquiline, or Roman, and seem to bear the character of something royal or majestic ”

“ The body’s essence consists in the conformation of its mem{7}bers; therefore, the conformation of the body, according to its form, and the form of its constituent members, must correspond with the essence of the soul. In like manner must the varieties of the mind be displayed in the varieties of the body. Hence, the body must contain something in itself, and in its form, as well as in the form of its parts, by which an opinion may be deduced concerning the native qualities of the mind. ”

“ Polemon says that a man whose mouth is very wide is of an uncouth, rude, and impious disposition. According to Adamantius, such a mouth denotes ignorance and greediness. Albert is of opinion that a mouth unreasonably extended, points out the cruel, impious, warlike, and gluttonous man. Polemon and Adamantius represent the Wicked Fool with a mouth split almost from ear to ear. Sea monsters, and all voracious animals, have such mouths. I can assure you, says Porta, that my farmer has a mouth not much{130} smaller, and he is stupid as an ass, and greedy as a dog. ”

“ The reason with which he is endowed renders him worthy of being compared to angels; he is given to lust as the swine, is wicked as the owl, useful as the horse, and hurtful as the rat. In short, there is no vegetable, mineral, or other substance in the world, but what pos{105}sesses some quality that can be referred to man. Adamantius says that we may judge of the manners and tempers of all animals by their looks. For instance, it is natural for the lion to be strong and easily provoked, which can be perceived by his form and looks. ”

“ As certainly as he has the faculties, power, and will, to love, so certain is it that it is necessary he should love. Equally certain is it, that if man has the faculties, power, and will, to obtain wisdom, that he should exercise those faculties for the attainment of wisdom. ”

“ OF THE FOREHEAD.
It is by the shape and size of the forehead that we are to judge of the extent of a man’s understanding.
A gently arched forehead, without a single angle, evinces a mild disposition; and often, that the mind is destitute of energy. (See pl. XXIV.)
A smooth, open forehead, indicates peace of mind; when it is wrinkled and furrowed, it announces stormy passions, perturbation of mind, and old age: but in the{21} latter instance, the wrinkles are more regular, less broken, and do not approach so near the eyes. ”

“ Here is the phisiognomy of one who judges the actions and characters of men with severity; he extends no indulgence to the follies of mankind, although he yields them his commiseration when bewildered in the mist of error. ”

“ Egotistical, hard-hearted, and mistrustful, the slightest loss afflicts him; and to confer a benefit upon him, is throwing it away; care is ever brooding in his heart, and every look is fraught with suspicion ”

“ The various thoughts which arise in the mind, the different passions which agitate the soul of man, are respectively connected with his features and the external parts of his frame; and so intimate is their correspondence, that the expression of the countenance, more rapid than speech, betrays his sentiments and emotions, and{14} gives to his utterance energy and animation. ”

“ Whether a more certain, more accurate, more extensive, and thereby, a more perfect knowledge of man, be, or be not profitable; whether it be, or be not, advantageous to gain a knowledge of internal qualities from external form and feature, is certainly a question deserving of inquiry. ”

“ An aquiline nose designates an imperious temper, and ardent passions. (See pl. XXV.)
A nose, the ridge of which is large, denotes a mind endowed with qualities of a high order. (See pl. VII.) {28}
When the sides of the nose are flexible, and perfectly disconnected, it betrays a proneness to sensuality.
A nose curved at the root, announces a personage born to command, firm in his purposes, and ardent in the pursuit. (See pl. XI.)
Small nostrils disclose timidity of soul.
A sharp pointed nose is characteristic of a passionate man. ”

“ Cyrus, according to Xenophon and Plutarch, possessed such a nose, and the Persians held them in such high estimation, that they granted royal honours to none but those possessed of aquiline noses, and to that custom they still adhere. They loved Cyrus above all other princes, and admired his magnanimity and courage. I have noticed on a medal, in the collection of my brother Porta, the antiquarian, that Artaxerxes, the descendant of Cyrus, and a king of Persia, had a very crooked and prominent nose. ”