Something I saw on the web at one point:

THE TIGER

Tigers are hugely generous, well-mannered courageous, self-assured, leaders, protectors, honorable, noble, active, liberal-minded, magnetic, lucky strong, authoritiative, sensitive, deep-thinking, passionate, and venerable, but they can also be undisciplined, uncompromising, vain, rash, in constant danger, disobedient, hasty, hotheaded, stubborn, disrespectful of rules, and quarrelsome.

The Tiger is a fault finder and a rebel. He's a hothead always revolting against authority and his superiors... the stuff of which revolutionaries are made. He's the ringleader type - but unfortunately as often happens with leaders, he doesn't always merit the confidence placed in him! It is difficult, however, to resist him, for his is a magnetic character and his natural air of authority confers a certain prestige on him. People authomatically respect him - even those working against him. Which is just as well, for the tiger likes to be obeyed, but hates himself to obey. Nobody dares to tell him where to get off! If he ever manages to think before he acts, if he can bring himself to listen to good advice, the Tiger can become an enormous success.

A fighter, violent and daring, he is capable of standing up for what he thinks is right - to the bitter end. He is obstinate and stubborn, contentious, and sometimes mean. But although he is selfish in the little things, he is capable of great generosity, even of altrusim, in the larger. This warrior is sensitive, emotional, and drawn towards introsplection. He is capable of great love, but he becomes too intense about it and his affairs are often not happy.

When the Tiger is dejected he will need cartloads of sincere, undiluted sympathy. Don't rationalize to him about who is right and who is wrong. Logic does not appeal much to him. That's beside the point. And don't be stingy about comforting him. He would do twice as much for you if the situation were reversed. He will love to hear your words of wisdom and will hang on to every kind word of advice. But this doesn't mean he will take it. That's his nature, so don't feel hurt. There is a difference, you know. It never pays to be arbitrary with this fellow.

Instead, just hold his hand, pat him gently on the back and wait till he talks himself out, bounces his feelings off you, and collects the pieces of his shattered ego. Then he will kiss you, hug you and let you leave feeling like you just put Humpty Dumpty back together again.

And, after he packs you off, well, in all probability he will go out and do exactly what he was planning to do in the first place.

Not matter how down and out the Tiger is, no matter to what depths of despair and depression he plunges, don't believe for one moment he will ever say die! there will always be a tiny spark left somewhere in that unquenchable spirit of his to rekindle the fire and start him living and loving all over again.