Modern European history . rederick came out of thisordeal self-contained, cynical, crafty, but sobered and submissive tothe fierce paternal will. He did not, according to his fathers expressionkick or rear again. For several years he buckled to the prosaic taskof learning his future trade in the traditional HohenzoUern manner, dis-charging the duties of minor offices, familiarizing himself with the drydetails of administration, and invested with larger responsibilities as hisreformation seemed, in the eyes of his father, satisfactorily to progress. When he came to the throne in 1740 at the age
Modern European history . rederick came out of thisordeal self-contained, cynical, crafty, but sobered and submissive tothe fierce paternal will. He did not, according to his fathers expressionkick or rear again. For several years he buckled to the prosaic taskof learning his future trade in the traditional HohenzoUern manner, dis-charging the duties of minor offices, familiarizing himself with the drydetails of administration, and invested with larger responsibilities as hisreformation seemed, in the eyes of his father, satisfactorily to progress. When he came to the throne in 1740 at the age of twenty-eight hecame equipped with a free and keen intellect, with a character of iron,Frederick ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ambition that was soon to set the world in becomes flame. He ruled for forty-six years and before half his °^ reign was over it was evident that he had no peer in Europe. It was thought that he would adopt a manner of life quite different fromhis fathers. Instead, however, there was the same austerity, the same. FREDERICKS POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY 13 simplicity, the same intense devotion to work, the same singleness ofaim, that aim being the exaltation of Prussia. The machinery of gov-ernment was not altered but it was now driven at unprecedented speed bythis vigorous, aggressive, supple personahty. For Frederick possessedsupreme ability and displayed it from the day of his accession to the dayof his death. He was, as Lord Acton has said, the most consummatepractical genius that, in modern times, has inherited a throne. His first important act revealed the character and the intentions of theruler. For this man who as a youth had loathed the life of a soldier andhad shirked its obligations as long as he could was now to ^tta^ksprove himself one of the great military commanders of the Austria andworlds history. He was the most successful of the robberbarons in wliich the annals of Germany abounded, and he had the ethicsof the class. He invaded Silesia, a large and rich pro
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