Napoleon Bonaparte Quotes

Where the Government is weak, military sway prevails.

Men will risk their lives, even die for ribbons.

It is the success which makes great men.

God! How men of letters are stupid.

There is no Nation however small which had the right to set itself free, that has not rescued itself from the dishonour of obeying the Prince imposed by an enemy in the hour of victory.

The populace judges of the power of God by the power of the priests.

All men of genius, and all those who have gained rank in the republic of letters, are brothers, whatever may be the land of their nativity.

We frustrate many designs against us by pretending not to see them.

Better to have a known enemy than a forced ally.

Age, habits of business and experience have modified many characters.

Rigorous authority and justice are the kindness of kings.

Wherever wood can swim, there I am sure to find this flag of England.

The most constant, the most powerful, and the most generous of all my enemies.

Liberty and equality are magical words.

We should wash our dirty linen at home.

In war, groping tactics, half-way measures, lose everything.

Diplomacy is the police in grand costume.

God is on the side of the heaviest cannon.

My star was fading, I felt the reins slipping out of my grasp, and could do nothing to stop it.

Prussia was hatched from a cannon-ball.

Success is the most convincing talker in the world.

True wisdom, in general, consists in energetic determination.

Those who are free from common prejudices acquire others.

A leader has the right to be beaten, but never the right to be surprised.

The only true conquests-those that awaken no regrets- are those obtained over our ignorance.

I pay attention only to what people do or say. I never pay attention to what they think.

Large legislative bodies resolve themselves into coteries, and coteries into jealousies.

How many seemingly impossible things have been accomplished by resolute men because they had to do, or die?

War is 90% information.

This accession of territory affirms forever the power of the United States, and I have given England a maritime rival who sooner or later will humble her pride.

What is the government? Nothing, unless supported by opinion.

An army which cannot be reenforced is already defeated.

If I had not been defeated in Acre against Jezzar Pasha of Turk. I would conquer all of the East.

In war it is not men, but the man who counts.

In political administration, no problem is ever simple. It can never be reduced to the question whether a certain measure is good or not.

The great art of governing consists in not letting men grow old in their jobs.

The fate of war is to be exalted in the morning, and low enough at night! There is but one step from triumph to ruin.

Morality has nothing to do with such a man as I am.

I have come to realise that men are not born to be free.

As for myself, I do not believe that such a person as Jesus Christ ever existed; but as the people are inclined to superstition, it is proper not to oppose them.

Why and how are words so important that they cannot be too often used.

Give me enough ribbons to place on the tunics of my soldiers and I can conquer the world.

Let the path be open to talent.

From triumph to downfall is but a step. I have seen a trifle decide the most important issues in the gravest affairs.

Better live a King, than a Prince.

War is not at all such a difficult art as people think. . . . In reality it would seem that he is vanquished who is afraid of his adversary and the the whole secret lies in that.

The best medicine against the grapes of wrath is a whiff of grapeshot

The English have no exaulted sentiments. They can all be bought.

What a beautiful fix we are in now; peace has been declared.

In the last analysis, one must be a military man in order to govern. It is only with boot and spurs that one can govern a horse.