Napoleon's quotes

Character

Wealth is a misfortune, primogeniture a relic of barbarism, celibacy a reprehensible practice.

Destiny

We must grow greater in spite of ourselves. It is prudent and politic to obey the commands of Destiny and follow the irresistible march of events.

I am conquered less by fortune than by the egotism and ingratitude of my companions in arms.

I walk with the goddess of fortune, accompanied by the god of war.

Fortune and Wealth

Wealth is a misfortune, primogeniture a relic of barbarism, celibacy a reprehensible practice.

A disordered imagination! There lies the cause and source of human misfortune. It sends us wandering from sea to sea, from fancy to fancy, and when at last it grows calm, opportunity has passed, the hour strikes, and its possessor dies abhorring life.

Government and Empire

In a conquered country benevolence is not humanitarianism. It is a general political axiom that a conqueror must not inspire a good opinion of his benevolence until he has demonstrated that he can be severe with malefactors.

Great events ever depend but upon a single hair. The adroit man profits by everything, neglects nothing which can increase his chances; the less adroit, by sometimes disregarding a single chance, fails in everything.

The career open to talents without distinction of birth or fortune.

In our day no one has concieved anything great; it falls to me to give the example.

I wanted to conquer the world...who wouldn't have in my place?

Friends must always be treated as if one day they might be enemies.

Law is like those statues of some of the gods which are veiled under certain circumstances.

A King who is unable to exact obedience at home is not a King.

Greatness

I have never found the limit of my capacity for work.

I may find in Spain the Pillars of Hercules, but not the limits of my power.

My master has no bowels, and that master is the nature of things.

Human greed, passion, vanity are the motive forces by which kings rule.

Man and His Ways

A man must be a good deal of a fool if he thinks there is nothing superior to his own ideas but miracles, and the mind of God!

Human greed, passion, vanity are the motive forces by which kings rule.

War

In war, the moral element and public opinion are half the battle.

Great events ever depend but upon a single hair. The adroit man profits by everything, neglects nothing which can increase his chances; the less adroit, by sometimes disregarding a single chance, fails in everything.

Unity of command is essential to the economy of time.

Warfare in the field was like a siege: by directing all one's force to a single point a breach might be made, and the equilibrium of opposition destroyed.

War must be made as intense and awful as possible in order to make it short, and thus to diminish its horrors.

I believe one bad general to be worth two good ones.

War is like government, a matter to tact.

Expansion is a given territory for sustenance.

The art of war is to gain time when your strength is inferior.

An army which cannot be regularly recruited is a doomed army.

A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon.

Generals who save troops for the next day are always beaten.

A man like me troubles himself little about a million men.

Enemy's lands make enemy's goods.

Gathered to strike; seperated to live.

Great battles are won with artillery.

The worse the troops the greater the need of artillery.

I have destroyed the enemy merely by marches.

In war you see your own troubles; those of the enemy you cannot see. You must show confidence.

My enemies make appointments at my tomb.

For a flying enemy you must make a bridge of gold, or oppose him a wall of steel.