Napoleon Quotes

French military leader, French Emperor 1804–1814 and again in 1815 (1769–1821)

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Napoléon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) was a French military general who rose dramatically up the ranks of the French Army during the French Revolution, becoming the ruler of France as First Consul of the French Republic (11 November 1799 - 18 May 1804), and then Emperor of the French and King of Italy under the name Napoleon I (18 May 1804 - 6 April 1814, and again briefly from 20 March - 22 June 1815). He died in exile on the island of Saint Helena.

From: Wikiquote (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Native Name: Napulione Buonaparte

Alternative Names: Napoléon Bonaparte • Napoleone di Buonaparte • Empereur des Français Napoléon I • Napoleon Buonaparte • Napoleone Bonaparte • Napoleone Buonaparte • Napoleon I • the Corsican Napolean • The Little Corporal • Napulione di Buonaparte • Napoleon I of France • Napoleone I • Little Corporal • Emperador dels Francesos Napoleó I • Napoleon Bonaparte

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

At twenty-two many things are allowed which are no longer permitted past thirty

I saw the way to achieve all my dreams. . . . I would found a religion, I saw myself marching on the way to Asia, mounted on an elephant, a turban on my head, and in my hand a new Koran that I would have composed to suit my needs. In my enterprises I would have combined the experiences of the two worlds, exploiting the realm of all history for my own profit.

The reading of history very soon made me feel that I was capable of achieving as much as the men who are placed in the highest ranks of our annals.

Never depend on the multitude, full of instability and whims; always take precautions against it.

The art of war consists in being always able, even with an inferior army, to have stronger forces than the enemy at the point of attack or the point which is attacked.

no one but myself can be blamed for my fall. I have been my own greatest enemy-the cause of my own disastrous fate

Show me a family of readers, and I’ll show you the people who move the world.

All great events hang by a single thread. The clever man takes advantage of everything, neglects nothing that may give him some added opportunity; the less clever man, by neglecting one thing, sometimes misses everything.

My son should often read and meditate on history; it is the only real philosophy

Ground I may recover, time never.

`` A general of ordinary talent, occupying a bad position and surprised by a superior force, seeks his safety in retreat; but a great captain supplies all deficiencies by his courage, and marches boldly to meet the attack. By this means he disconcerts his adversary, and if this last shows any irresolution in his movements, a skilful leader, profiting by his indecision, may even hope for victory.

The first virtue in a soldier is endurance of fatigue ;
courage is only the second virtue.

Lead the ideas of your time and they will accompany and support you; fall behind them and they drag you along with them; oppose them and they will overwhelm you.

in this life we are either kings or pawns emperors and fools