“I wish I could take a raincheck on June 18.1815”

“It's not the size of the army but the power within the army.”

“The heart of a statesman should be in his head.”

“My enemies make appointments at my tomb.”

“The first quality of the commander-in-chief is a cool head to receive a correct impression of things. He should not allow himself to be confused by either good or bad news.”

“All the qualities of a man acquire dignity when he knows that the service of the collectivity that owns him needs them. If proud of the collectivity, his own pride rises in proportion. No collectivity is like an army for nourishing such pride.”

“But they (the infantry) had no use for boys of twelve and thirteen, and before I had a chance in another war, the desire to kill people to whom I had not been introduced had passed away.”

“It was the same thing in the army, no respect. They gave me a uniform that glowed in the dark.”