Definition of Temperament

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Temperament

Internal constitution; state with respect to the relative proportion of different qualities, or constituent parts.

Due mixture of qualities; a condition brought about by mutual compromises or concessions.

The act of tempering or modifying; adjustment, as of clashing rules, interests, passions, or the like; also, the means by which such adjustment is effected.

Condition with regard to heat or cold; temperature.

A system of compromises in the tuning of organs, pianofortes, and the like, whereby the tones generated with the vibrations of a ground tone are mutually modified and in part canceled, until their number reduced to the actual practicable scale of twelve tones to the octave. This scale, although in so far artificial, is yet closely suggestive of its origin in nature, and this system of tuning, although not mathematically true, yet satisfies the ear, while it has the convenience that the same twelve fixed tones answer for every key or scale, C/ becoming identical with D/, and so on.

The peculiar physical and mental character of an individual, in olden times erroneously supposed to be due to individual variation in the relations and proportions of the constituent parts of the body, especially of the fluids, as the bile, blood, lymph, etc. Hence the phrases, bilious or choleric temperament, sanguine temperament, etc., implying a predominance of one of these fluids and a corresponding influence on the temperament.

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Temperament Quotations

A work of art is the unique result of a unique temperament.
Oscar Wilde

Music inflames temperament.
Jim Morrison

Artistic temperament is the disease that afflicts amateurs.
Gilbert K. Chesterton

The principle of all successful effort is to try to do not what is absolutely the best, but what is easily within our power, and suited for our temperament and condition.
John Ruskin

The cut of a garment speaks of intellect and talent and the color of temperament and heart.
Thomas Carlyle

With a painter's temperament, all that's needed are the means of expression sufficient to be intelligible to the wide public.
Paul Cezanne

Being good is just a matter of temperament in the end.
Iris Murdoch

There is no personal charm so great as the charm of a cheerful temperament.
Henry Van Dyke

Heart and head are the constituent parts of character; temperament has almost nothing to do with it, and, therefore, character is dependent upon education, and is susceptible of being corrected and improved.
Giacomo Casanova

I was born out of due time in the sense that by temperament and talent I should have been more suited for the life of a small Bach, living in anonymity and composing regularly for an established service and for God.
Igor Stravinsky

Temperament Translations

temperament in Dutch is temperament
temperament in German is Temperament
temperament in Swedish is temperament

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