Napoleon Quotes

Strategy is the art of making use of time and space. I am less chary of the latter than the former. Space we can recover, lost time never.

Courage cannot be counterfeited. It is one virtue that escapes hypocrisy.

Champagne. In victory one deserves it, in defeat one needs it.

Hand weapons were the main weapons of the ancients; it is with his short sword that the legionary conquered the world. It is with the Macedonian lance that Alexander conquered Asia.

Kiss the feet of Popes provided their hands are tied.

«ليست السلطة المطلقة في حاجة إلى الكذب، لأنها تعمل ولا تقول شيئًا»

Whatever misanthropists may say, ingrates and the perverse are exceptions in the human species.

Hereditary succession to the magistracy is absurd, as it tends to make a property of it; it is incompatible with the sovereignty of the people.

Among mountains there are everywhere numerous positions extremely strong by nature, which you should abstain from attacking. The genius of this kind of war consists in occupying camps either on the flank or the rear of the enemy, So as to leave him no alternative but to withdraw from his position without fighting; and to move him farther back, or to make him come out and attack you. In mountain war the attacking party acts under a disadvantage. Even in offensive war, the merit lies in having only defensive conflicts and obliging your enemy to become the assailant.

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

The only victory over love is flight.

I often asked Laplace what he thought of God. He owned that he was an atheist.

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

My intention is that the main village where the insurrection started shall be burnt, and that thirty of the ringleaders shall be shot; an impressive example is needed to contain the hatred of the peasantry and of that soldiery. If you have not yet made an example, let there be one without delay... Let not the month pass without the principal village, borough, or small town which gave the signal for the insurrection being burned, and a large number of individuals being shot... Traces must be left in the cantons which have rebelled.

The battlefield is a scene of constant chaos. The winner will be the one who controls that chaos, both his own and the enemies