Napoleon Bonaparte Quotes

“I cannot approve of your method of operation, you proceed like a bewildered idiot, taking not the least notice of my orders.”

“When people cease to complain, they cease to think.”

“He who knows how to flatter also knows how to slander.”

“The greatest danger occurs at the moment of victory”

“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 soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon.”

“France is invaded; I am leaving to take command of my troops, and, with God's help and their valor, I hope soon to drive the enemy beyond the frontier.”

“It strengthens the bonds between nations to have the same civil laws and the same monetary system.”

“In war you see your own troubles; those of the enemy you cannot see. You must show confidence.”

“You must not fight too often with one enemy, or you will teach him all your art of war.”

“In matters of government, justice means force as well as virtue.”

“The stupid speak of the past, the wise of the present, and fools of the future.”

“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.”

“Vengeance is without foresight.”

“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.”

“For the stability of the Government, the people should have a considerable voice in the elections.”

“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.”

“Soldiers! Here is the battle you have so long desired! Henceforth victory depends on you; we have need of it.”

“Public opinion is the thermometer a monarch should constantly consult.”

“Passions change, politics are immutable.”

“There are two merits that glorify a person: being courageous for a man and being virtuous for a woman. Besides these two, there is another merit that glorifies both man and woman: so much loving the homeland to an extent with being ready to sacrifice his/her life, if needed. Turks are such courageous and virtuous people. That is why you can kill a Turk but you can never defeat them.”

“The more I study the world, the more I am convinced of the inability of brute force to create anything durable.”

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

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

“God is on the side of the heaviest cannon.”