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Sickness and Blunders

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 23, 1873

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 42, No. 15.

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Sickness and Blunders.

A SLEEPLESS night, or a severe attack of dyspepsia, may change the history of the world. It may disturb the brain of a statesman, and overturn his wisest plans. It may distract a general in the crisis of a great campaign, and bring on a fatal defeat. Some apology may be made for the disastrous overthrow of Napoleon in the late war with Prussia on the ground of ill health. The physicians say the disease which brought on his death was then seated in him, clouding his judgment and paralyzing his energy. He could not examine the probabilities of success with the same care as formerly. He could not concentrate his powers to win success. His cabinet and generals were perplexed by his hesitation and frequent changes of plans. He seemed to have no well-defined purpose, and no energy to act with promptness. His disease explains the matter. He was no longer himself. The brain and the will were both weakened, and failure was sure.