Full.—One having a full-sized brain, with activity great, or very great, and the organs of practical intellect and of the propelling powers large, or very large, although he will not possess greatness of intellect, nor a deep, strong mind, will be very clever; have considerable talent, and that so distributed that it will show to be more than it really is; is capable of being a good scholar, doing a fine business, and, with advantages and application, of distinguishing himself somewhat; yet he is inadequate to a great undertaking; cannot sway an extensive influence, nor be really great; with activity full, or average, will do only tolerably well, and manifest only a common share of talent; with activity moderate, or small, will neither be nor do much worthy of notice.
Average, with activity great, manifests a quick, clear, sprightly mind and off-hand talents; and is capable of doing a fair business, especially if the stamina is good; with activity very great, and the organs of the propelling powers and of practical intellect large, or very large, is capable of doing a good business, and may pass for a man of fair talent, yet will not be original or profound; will be quick of perception; have a good practical understanding; will do well in his sphere, yet never manifest greatness, and out of his sphere, be common-place; with activity only average, will discover only an ordinary amount of intellect; be inadequate to any important undertaking; yet, in a small sphere, or one that requires only a mechanical routine of business, may do well; with moderate or small activity, will hardly have common sense.
Moderate.—One with a head of only moderate size, combined with great or very great activity, and the organs of the propelling powers and of practical intellect large, will possess a tolerable share of intellect, yet be more showy than sound; with others to plan for and direct him, will execute to advantage, yet be unable to do much alone; will have a very active mind, and be quick of perception, yet, after all, have a contracted intellect; possess only a small mental calibre, and lack momentum, both of mind and character; with activity only average, or fair, will have but a moderate amount of intellect, and even this scanty allowance will be too sluggish for action, so that he will neither suffer nor enjoy much; with activity moderate or small, will be idiotic.
Small or Very Small.—One with a small or very small head, no matter what may be the activity of his mind, will be incapable of much intellectual effort; of comprehending even easy subjects; or of experiencing much pain or pleasure; in short, will be mentally imbecile.
27.—SIZE OF BRAIN AS AFFECTING MENTALITY.
Most great men have great heads. Webster’s head measures over 24 inches, and Clay’s considerably above 23; and this is about Van Buren’s size; Chief Justice Gibson’s, the greatest jurist in Pennsylvania, 24¼; Napoleon’s reached nearly or quite to 24, his hat passing easily over the head of one of his officers, which measured 23½; and Hamilton’s hat passed over the head of a man whose head measured 23½. Burke’s head was immense, so was Jefferson’s; while Franklin’s hat passed over the ears of a 24-inch head. Small and average sized heads often astonish us by their brilliancy and learning, and, perhaps, eloquence, yet they fail in that commanding greatness which impresses and sways mind. The phrenological law is that size, other things being equal, is a measure of power; yet these other conditions, such as activity, power of motive, wealth, physiological habits, etc., increase or diminish the mentality, even more than size.