Napoleon Quotes

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

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

From Wikidata (CC0)

Necessity dominates inclination, will, and right.

Destiny urges me to a goal of which I am ignorant. Until that goal is attained I am invulnerable, unassailable. When Destiny has accomplished her purpose in me, a fly may suffice to destroy me.

A congress of the powers is deceit agreed on between diplomats — it is the pen of Machiavelli combined with the scimitar of Mahomet.

The man fitted for affairs and authority never considers individuals, but things and their consequences.

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

Impatience is a great obstacle to success; he who treats everything with brusqueness gathers nothing, or only immature fruit which will never ripen.

Maximes et pensées de Napoléon recueillies par J.-L. Gaudy jeune (1838), Pg 49

Celui qui sauve sa patrie ne viole aucune loi

Who saves his country violates no law.

The superior man is never in anyone's way.

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.

If you make everything difficult, the really hard things seem less so.

You cannot treat with all the world at once.

The life of a citizen is the property of his country.

Many a one commits a reprehensible action, who is at bottom an honourable man, because man seldom acts upon natural impulse, but from some secret passion of the moment which lies hidden and concealed within the narrowest folds of his heart.