Both Cromwell, greatest of Englishmen, and the great Frederic, Carlyle's especial heroes, were fond of talking of themselves.

So in still larger measure was Napoleon, and many others of less importance.

But Washington differs from them all.

He had abundant power of words, and could use them with much force and point when he was so minded, but he never used them needlessly or to hide his meaning, and he never talked about himself.

Hence the inestimable difficulty of knowing him.