Napoleon Quotes

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

To understand the man you have to know what was happening in the world when he was twenty.

The moral is to the physical as three is to one

My maxim was, la carrière est ouverte aux talents, without distinction of birth or fortune.

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.

A general must be a charlatan.

You cannot drag a man's conscience before any tribunal, and no one is answerable for his religious opinions to any power on earth.

A revolution is an idea, taken up by bayonets.

La stratégie est l'art de faire usage du temps et de l'espace. Je suis moins avare de celui-ci que du premier. L'espace, on peut le récupérer ; le temps perdu, jamais.

Greatness is nothing unless it be lasting

On awards, as quoted in Mémoires sur le Consulat. 1799 à 1804 (1827) by Antoine-Claire, Comte Thibaudeau. Chez Ponthieu, pp. 83–84. Original: "On appelle cela des hochets; eh bien! c'est avec des hochets que l'on mène les hommes... Croyez-vous que vous feríez battre des hommes par l'analyse? Jamais. Elle n'est bonne que pour le savant dans son cabinet. Il faut au soldat de la gloire, des distinctions, des récomponses."

There are only two forces that unite men — fear and interest. All great revolutions originate in fear, for the play of interests does not lead to accomplishment.

There shall be no Alps.

Parties weaken themselves by their fear of capable men.

Napoléon ubicumque felix.