Top 867 Quotes & Sayings by Napoleon Bonaparte - Page 11

The first method is that of a schemer and leads only to mediocre results; the other method is the path of genius and changes the face of the world.

The fate of a battle is the result of a moment, of a thought: the hostile forces advance with various combinations, they attack each other and fight for a certain time; the critical moment arrives, a mental flash decides, and the least reserve accomplishes the object.

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.

A man is not dependent upon his fellow creature, when he does not fear death.

The conscience is the sacred haven of the liberty of man.

I don't employ Talleyrand when I want a thing done, but only when I want to have the appearance of wanting to do it.

A man made for public life and authority never takes account of personalities; he only takes account of things, of their weight and their conseqences.

A legislator must know how to take advantage of even the defects of those he wants to govern. The art consists in making others work rather than in wearing oneself out.

It must be recognized that the real truths of history are hard to discover. Happily, for the most part, they are rather matters of curiosity than of real importance.

If I always appear prepared, it is because before entering an undertaking, I have meditated long and have foreseen what might occur. It is not genius which reveals to me suddenly and secretly what I should do in circumstances unexpected by others; it is thought and preparation

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

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

Every man who is worth thirty millions and is not wedded to them, is dangerous to the government.

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

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

Democracy may become frenzied, but it has feelings and can be moved. As for aristocracy, it is always cold and never forgives.

The division of labor, which has brought such perfection in mechanical industries, is altogether fatal when applied to productions of the mind. All work of the mind is superior in proportion as the mind that produces it is universal.

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

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.

You would make a ship sail against the winds and currents by lighting a bonfire under her decks? I have no time for such nonsense.

It is easy to know when a government wishes for peace by observing the character of the person sent to negotiate for it.

Do you wish to find out the really sublime? Repeat the Lord's Prayer.

Against attempts on my life, I trust in my luck, my good genius, and my guards.

He who cannot look over a battlefield with a dry eye, causes the death of many men uselessly.

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.

Give me enough medals and I’ll win you any war

I make my battle plans from the spirit of my sleeping soldiers

Clearly, the pleasures wines afford are transitory - but so are those of the ballet, or of a musical performance. Wine is inspiring and adds greatly to the joy of living.

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

France always has plenty men of talent, but it is always deficient in men of action and high character.

Obedience to public authority ought not to be based either on ignorance or stupidity.

It is cowardly to commit suicide. The English often kill themselves. It is a malady caused by the humid climate.

It is not necessary to prohibit or encourage oddities of conduct which are not harmful.

The nature of Christ is, I grant it, from one end to another, a web of mysteries; but this mysteriousness does not correspond to the difficulties which all existence contains. Let it be rejected, and the whole world is an enigma; let it be accepted, and we possess a wonderful explanation of the history of man.

In tragedy great men are more truly great than in history. We see them only in the crises which unfold them.

High politic is only common sense applied to great things.

A King should sacrifice the best affections of his heart for the good of his country; no sacrifice should be above his determination.

Those who failed to oppose me, who readily agreed with me, accepted all my views, and yielded easily to my opinions, were those who did me the most injury, and were my worst enemies, because, by surrendering to me so easily, they encouraged me to go too far... I was then too powerful for any man, except myself, to injure me.

If we could read the past histories of all our enemies we would disregard all hostility for them.

There are two kinds of fidelity, that of dogs and that of cats; you, gentleman, have the fidelity of cats who never leave the house.

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

To write history one must be more than a man, since the author who holds the pen of this great justiciary must be free from all preoccupation of interest or vanity.

Better live a King, than a Prince.

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

My waking thoughts are all of thee. Your portrait and the remembrance of last night's delirium have robbed my senses of repose. Sweet and incomparable Josephine, what an extraordinary influence you have over my heart. Are you vexed? Do I see you sad? Are you ill at ease? My soul is broken with grief, and there is no rest for your lover.

Better to have a known enemy than a forced ally.

Surely in a matter of this kind we should endeavor to do something, that we may say that we have not lived in vain, that we may leave some impress of ourselves on the sands of time.

Across a chasm of eighteen hundred years, Jesus Christ makes a demand which is beyond all others difficult to satisfy; He asks for that which a philosopher may often seek in vain at the hands of his friends, or a father of his children, or a bride of her spouse, or a man of his brother. He asks for the human heart; He will have it entirely to Himself. He demands it unconditionally; and forthwith His demand is granted. Wonderful!

I closed the gulf of anarchy and brought order out of chaos. I rewarded merit regardless of birth or wealth, wherever I found it. I abolished feudalism and restored equality to all regardless of religion and before the law. I fought the decrepit monarchies of the Old Regime because the alternative was the destruction of all this. I purified the Revolution.

It is rare that a legislature reasons. It is too quickly impassioned.

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

Do you know what is more hard to bear than the reverses of fortune? It is the baseness, the hideous ingratitude, of man.

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.

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

Give me a man with a good allowance of nose,... when I want any good head-work done I choose a man - provided his education has been suitable - with a long nose.

The heart of a statesman should be in his head.

If you set out to take Vienna, take Vienna.

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

I know men; and I tell you that Jesus Christ is not a man. Superficial minds see a resemblance between Christ and the founders of empires, and the gods of other religions. That resemblance does not exist. There is between Christianity and whatever other religions the distance of infinity.

The Allied Powers having proclaimed that the Emperor Napoleon is the sole obstacle to the re-establishment of peace in Europe, he, faithful to his oath, declares that he is ready to descend from the throne, to quit France, and even to relinquish life, for the good of his country.