Temperament
is the disposition resulting from the combination of man's mental and
physical constitution. It is influenced by age, sex, climate, diet,
occupation, environment, state of health, education, grace, and free
will.
It
is said there are no two creatures exactly alike in the visible world.
This is certainly true of the temperaments or dispositions of
individuals. The same remark, for example, ad- dressed to several
persons, may cause one to laugh, another to weep, a third to grow angry,
and make no apparent impression on a fourth.
Temperaments
are usually divided into four general classes. They are the sanguine,
the choleric, the melancholic, and the phlegmatic. There is no fixed
boundary between them. They are rather like so many shades blending
imperceptibly, though sometimes two or even more temperaments unite in
the same individual. Usually, however, the characteristics of one or the
other temperament predominate.
Temperaments have their good as well as their bad characteristics.
A
sanguine person is naturally amiable, generous, sociable, tractable,
and happy on the one hand; and frivolous, vain, flighty, distracted,
roguish, wanton, and desirous of pleasure on the other.
A
choleric person is open, magnanimous, generous, sagacious, and noted
for force of will; but he is also inclined to be self-willed, proud,
presumptuous, obstinate, critical, ambitious, rebellious, hard-hearted,
and revengeful.
A
melancholic person is earnest, patient, methodical, and resigned when
in good humor; but inclined to be morose, jealous, envious, ir-
resolute, retiring, and dejected when out of sorts.
A
phlegmatic person is naturally calm, patient, agreeable, and
circumspect; but dull, indolent, unsympathetic, and a lover of ease,
comfort, and good cheer.
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