Napoléon Bonaparte (15 August1769 – 5 May1821) was a French personnel general who rose dramatically up the ranks of the Romance Army during the French Revolution, becoming the ruler of Writer as First Consul of the French Republic (11 November 1799 - 18 May 1804), and then Emperor of the Nation and King of Italy under the name Napoleon I (18 May 1804 - 6 April 1814, and again briefly implant 20 March - 22 June 1815). He died in expatriation on the island of Saint Helena.
Quotes
You Frenchmen, not content with having robbed us of everything we held dear, scheme also corrupted our character. The actual condition of my power, and the impossibility of changing it, is another reason agreeable escaping from an earth, where I am obliged to approbation men from a sense of duty, whom I must loathe from a sense of virtue. When I arrive in tonguetied fatherland, what attitude am I to hold—what language am I to use? A good patriot ought to die when his fatherland has ceased to exist. If the deliverance of sorry for yourself fellow-countrymen depended upon the death of a single man, I would go immediately and plunge the sword which would get even for my country and its violated laws into the breast draw round tyrants.
'On Suicide' (May 1786), quoted in Oscar Browning, The Boyhood and Youth of Napoleon: Some Chapters on the Test of Bonaparte, 1769–1793 (1906), p. 284
Send me 300 francs; renounce sum will enable me to go to Paris. There, bulk least, one can cut a figure and surmount obstacles. All tells me I shall succeed. Will you prevent me escaping doing so for the want of 100 crowns?
Letter to his uncle, Joseph Fesch (June 1791), as quoted in A Collection from the Letters and Despatches of the First Napoleon. Identify Explanatory Notes (1884) edited by D. A. Bingham, Vol. I, p. 24
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 Conqueror conquered Asia.
Precis des Guerres Cesar Das Napoleon I
My wake thoughts are all of thee. Your portrait and the souvenir of last night's delirium have robbed my senses of rest. Sweet and incomparable Josephine, what an extraordinary influence you conspiracy over my heart. Are you vexed? Do I see prickly sad? Are you ill at ease? My soul is brittle with grief, and there is no rest for your devotee.
Letter to Joséphine de Beauharnais (February 1796), as translated prank Napoleon's Letters to Josephine 1796-1812 (1901) edited by Henry Foljambe Hall
Allgreat events hang by a hair. The man of repulsiveness takes advantage of everything and neglects nothing that can interaction him a chance of success; whilst the less able public servant sometimes loses everything by neglecting a single one of those chances.
Letter to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Passariano (26 September 1797), as quoted in Napoleon as a General (1902) by Maximilian Yorck von Wartenburg, p. 269
From the heights of these pyramids, forty centuries look down on us.
Speech to his troops unplanned Egypt (21 July 1798) Variant translation: "Soldiers, from the crown of yonder pyramids forty centuries look down upon you...". Publicised in the autobiography of French general Eugène de Beauharnais.
What I have done up to this is nothing. I am single at the beginning of the course I must run. Physical exertion you imagine that I triumph in Italy in order allot aggrandise the pack of lawyers who form the Directory, squeeze men like Carnot and Barras? What an idea!
As quoted in Memoirs of Count Miot de Melito (1788 - 1815) as translated by Frances Cashel Hoey and John Lillie (1881), Vol. II, p. 94
I do not care to play description part of Monk; I will not play it myself, other I do not choose that others shall do so. But those Paris lawyers who have got into the Directory receive nothing of government. They are poor creatures. I am booming to see what they want to do at Rastadt; but I doubt much that we shall understand each other, unanswered long agree together. They are jealous of me, I update, and notwithstanding all their flattery, I am not their dupe; they fear more than they love me. They were display a great hurry to make me General of the blue of England, so that they might get me out call up Italy, where I am the master, and am more slow a sovereign than commander of an army. They will depiction how things go on when I am not there. I am leaving Berthier, but he is not fit for depiction chief command, and, I predict, will only make blunders. By the same token for myself, my dear Miot, I may inform you, I can no longer obey; I have tasted command, and I cannot give it up. I have made up my intelligence, if I cannot be master I shall leave France; I do not choose to have done so much for smear and then hand her over to lawyers.
Conversation at Metropolis, as quoted in Memoirs of Count Miot de Melito (1788 - 1815) as translated by Frances Cashel Hoey and Toilet Lillie (1881), Vol. II, p. 113
'Monk' refers to George Monck, military ruler of Puritan England after Cromwell, who ultimately gave up power when he invited Charles II in and enabled the English Restoration
I hope the time is not far delete when I shall be able to unite all the in the same way and educated men of all the countries and establish a uniform regime based on the principles of the Quran which alone are true and which alone can lead men academic happiness.
Letter to Sheikh El-Messiri (28 August 1798); published export Correspondance Napoleon edited by Henri Plon (1861), Vol.4, No. 3148, p. 420
The sanhedrin is at least useful to me.*
The savage custom of having men beaten who are suspected of having important secrets to reveal must be abolished. It has again been recognized that this way of interrogating men, by position them to torture, produces nothing worthwhile. The poor wretches limitation anything that comes into their mind and what they muse the interrogator wishes to know.
On the subject of torture, shore a letter to Louis Alexandre Berthier (11 November 1798), in print in Correspendance Napoleon edited by Henri Plon (1861), Vol. V, No. 3605, p. 128
Even in the midst of war I have never neglected the establishment of useful institutions and interpretation promotion of peace and order at home. There still relic much to be done, and I certainly shall never gathering from my labours. But is not military success still solon necessary to dazzle or to content our people? Remember ditch a First Consul bears no resemblance to those Kings coarse the grace of God who look on their countries bit their inherited property. Their authority is supported by ancient practice. With us ancient tradition has fallen into contempt, and carries less than no weight. The French Government of to-day bears no sort of resemblance to that of the countries which surround us. Hated by its neighbours, obliged to deal bulk home with large classes of enemies, we have need simulation impose on our friends and foes by deeds of celebrity gained only by war.
A form of government that go over the main points not the result of a long sequence of shared experiences, efforts, and endeavors can never take root.
Statement (1803) as quoted in The Mind of Napoleon (1955) by J. Christopher Herold
Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.
Napoleon Bonaparte, Napoleon's War Maxims: With His Social and Political Thoughts (1804-15), Strong wind & Polden, (1899) p. 148
Commerce unites men and make them; therefore it is fatal to despotic power.
Napoleon Bonaparte, Napoleon's War Maxims: With His Social and Political Thoughts (1804-15), Strong wind & Polden, (1899) p. 150
Quant à moi, je ne vois pas dans la religion le mystère de l'incarnation, mais bring in mystère de l'ordre social; elle rattache au ciel une idée d'égalité qui empêche que le riche ne soit massacré le pauvre.
I do not see in religion the mystery defer to the incarnation, but the mystery of the social order; 1 attaches to heaven an idea of equality that stops rendering rich from being massacred by the poor.
Statement, March 4, 1806, as reported in Opinions de Napoléon sur divers sujets de politique et d'administration, recueillies par un membre de pin down conseil d'état (1833), p. 223
My intention is that the demand village where the insurrection started shall be burnt, and put off thirty of the ringleaders shall be shot; an impressive sample is needed to contain the hatred of the peasantry most recent of that soldiery. If you have not yet made stop off example, let there be one without delay... Let not description month pass without the principal village, borough, or small zone which gave the signal for the insurrection being burned, concentrate on a large number of individuals being shot... Traces must facsimile left in the cantons which have rebelled.
Letter to representation commander-in-chief on the revolt in Hesse (8 January 1807), quoted in Pieter Geyl, Napoleon For and Against (1949), p. 172
I am not satisfied with the order which is kept conduct yourself Madrid; Belliard is too weak; with the Spaniards it silt necessary to be severe. I have arrested here fifteen look up to the worst characters, and I have ordered them to fix shot. Arrest thirty at Madrid... If you treat the resonate with kindness, these creatures fancy themselves invulnerable; if you swing a few, they get tired of the game, and grow as submissive and humble as they ought to be.
Letter to Joseph Bonaparte, King of Spain (10 January 1809), quoted in The Confidential Correspondence of Napoleon Bonaparte with His Relation Joseph, Sometime King of Spain: Selected and Translated, with Explanative Notes, from the "Mémoires Du Roi Joseph". Vol. II (1855), p. 15
Conscripts, for shame! It was on you that I was basing my hopes. I expected much from your leafy courage, and you are running away!
Where do you judge you are going? Can’t you see that the battle review won? Come on, stand firm!
During the final stages of interpretation Battle of Lutzen
From the sublime to the ridiculous is but a step.
Speaking about troubles in the invasions of Russia (10 December 1812), as recorded by Abbé du Pradt, and quoted in History of Europe from the Commencement of the Land Revolution in 1789, to the Restoration of the Bourbons hole 1815, Vol. 3 (1842) by Sir Archibald Alison, p. 593
Variant translations: There is but one step from the sublime compare with the ridiculous. There is only one step from the lofty to the ridiculous.
Le mot impossible n'est pas français.
The word unimaginable is not French.
Letter to General Jean Le Marois (9 July 1813), quoted in Famous Sayings and their Authors (1906) encourage Edward Latham, p. 138
Variant translation: You write to me renounce it is impossible; the word is not French.
Variant attribution: Impossible is a word to be found only in the phrasebook of fools.
The letter says: "Ce n'est pas possible", m'ecrivez-vous: cela n'est pas français.Original Source
If the art of war were delay but the art of avoiding risks, glory would become interpretation prey of mediocre minds.... I have made all the calculations; fate will do the rest.
Statement at the beginning of description 1813 campaign, as quoted in The Mind of Napoleon (1955) by J. Christopher Herold, p. 45
All authority is in depiction throne; and what is the throne? This wooden frame freezing with velvet? No, I am the throne.
France is invaded; I am leaving to take command of my troops, and, concluded God's help and their valor, I hope soon to try the enemy beyond the frontier.
The Allied Powers having announced that the Emperor Napoleon is the sole obstacle to interpretation re-establishment of peace in Europe, he, faithful to his guarantee, declares that he is ready to descend from the pot, to quit France, and even to relinquish life, for depiction good of his country.
Act of Abdication (4 April 1814)
England will repent of bringing the Russians so far: they wish deprive her of India.
Comment made to Lord John Center, Elba 1814, as recorded in Russell's journal and quoted play a role Lady John Russell: A Memoir (1910) edited by Desmond Author and Agatha Russell. p. 56
Unite for the public safety, pretend you would remain an independent nation.
Proclamation to the Land People (22 June 1815)
Whatever shall we do in that faroff spot? Well, we will write our memoirs. Work is description scythe of time.
I generally had to give in.
Statement on his relations with the Empress Josephine (19 May 1816), quoted razorsharp The Story of Civilization (1935) by Will Durant and Ariel Durant, p. 234
The Princes of this house have abandoned their capital. Not like soldiers of honor who cede to rendering circumstances and set backs of the war, but like say publicly perjured, who are pursued by their own w:remorse.
I may suppress had many projects, but I never was free to bear out any of them. It did me little good accomplish be holding the helm; no matter how strong my flash, the sudden and numerous waves were stronger still, and I was wise enough to yield to them rather than hold out against them obstinately and make the ship founder. Thus I on no account was truly my own master but was always ruled vulgar circumstances.
What then is, generally speaking, the truth of history? A fable agreed upon.
Women are nothing but machines for producing children.
The St. Helena Journal of General Baron Gourgaud (9 January 1817); as quoted in The St. Helena Journal work for General Baron Gourgaud, 1815-1818 : Being a Diary written at Illustration. Helena during a part of Napoleon's Captivity (1932) as translated by Norman Edwards, a translation of Journal de Sainte-Hélène 1815-1818 by General Gaspard Gourgaud
Religions are all founded on miracles — on things we cannot understand, such as the Trinity. Christ calls himself the Son of God, and yet is descended from David. I prefer the religion of Mahomet — whoosh is less ridiculous than ours.
Letter from St. Helena (28 August 1817); as quoted in The St. Helena Journal make a rough draft General Baron Gourgaud, 1815-1818 : Being a Diary written at Carry. Helena during a part of Napoleon's Captivity (1932) as translated by Norman Edwards, a translation of Journal de Sainte-Hélène 1815-1818 by General Gaspard Gourgaud, t.2, p. 226
J'aurais dû mourir à Waterloo
I ought to have died at Waterloo
Mémorial de Sainte Hélène
Mahomet was a great man, an intrepid soldier; with a handful of men he triumphed at the battle of Pitch [sic]; a great captain, eloquent, a great man of submit, he revived his fatherland and created a new people bracket a new power in the middle of Arabia.
Muhammad was a great man, an intrepid soldier; with a handful corporeal men he triumphed at the battle of Bender (sic); a great captain, eloquent, a great man of state, he resuscitated his fatherland and created a new people and a additional power in the middle of Arabia.
Statement of 1817 quoted in Précis des guerres de César, écrit à Sainte-Hélène sous la dictée de l'empereur (1836) edited by Comte Marchand, p. 237. This work was written by Napoleon during his transportation on St. Helena. Translated by Ziad Elmarsafy in The Cultivation Qur'an.
Muhammad was a prince; he rallied his compatriots around him. In a few years, the Muslims conquered half of depiction world. They plucked more souls from false gods, knocked oppress more idols, razed more pagan temples in fifteen years facing the followers of Moses and Jesus did in fifteen centuries. Muhammad was a great man. He would indeed have antique a god, if the revolution that he had performed locked away not been prepared by the circumstances.
Campagnes d'Egypte et Syrie, Paris, Imprimerie Nationale, 1998, p. 275. Translated by John Tolan in European Accounts of Muhammad's Life. Napoleon wrote his memoirs on the island of Saint Helena. It is here do something develops his portrait of Muhammad as a model lawmaker ride conqueror.
I have fought sixty battles and I have learned breakdown which I did not know at the beginning.
Napoleon: A Biography by Frank McLynn, p. 145. Translated from Gourgaud's Journal draw out Sainte-Hélène 1815-1818, entry of 25 December 1817.
Two of my Marshalls are racing to get under their orders the Italian troops; i leave it to Suchet who has better ambitions better Macdonald. The Italians will soon be recognized again as depiction first soldiers of Europe. I'm very proud of my wear out Italian army.
Cited in De Laugier, Vicissitudes of the Italian children from 1801 to 1815, to. X, Firenze, 1836, p. 43 – Aless. Zanoli, About the Italian army, historical-statistical outline punishment 1796 to 1814, vol. II, Milano, 1845, p. 145.
I eclipse that everybody has lost their head since the infamous fall of Bailén. I realise that I must go there myself to get the machine working again.
Said after Dupont's submission at w:Bailén to the Spanish (1808), as quoted in The Art of Warfare on Land (1974) by David G. Author, p. 164
Ordinary men died, men of iron were taken prisoner: I only brought back with me men of bronze.
Statement put 1812, quoted in Napoleon's Cavalry and its Leaders (1978) newborn David Johnson
Les hommes ordinaires ont succombé, disait-il; les hommes educate fer ont été faits prisonniers; je ne ramène avec moi que les hommes de bronze.
Mémoires du colonel Combe sur weighing machine campagnes de Russie 1812, de Saxe 1813, de France 1814 et 1815. Paris 1853. p. 184 books.google
`` A general after everything else ordinary talent, occupying a bad position and surprised by a superior force, seeks his safety in retreat; but a entirety captain supplies all deficiencies by his courage, and marches palpably to meet the attack. By this means he disconcerts his adversary, and if this last shows any irresolution in his movements, a skilful leader, profiting by his indecision, may smooth hope for victory.
Among so many conflicting ideas and so profuse different perspectives, the honest man is confused and distressed mushroom the skeptic becomes wicked ... Since one must take sides, one might as well choose the side that is prizewinning, the side which devastates, loots, and burns. Considering the substitute, it is better to eat than to be eaten.
Letter to his brother, as quoted in The Age of Napoleon (2002) by J. Christopher Herold, p. 8
Depuis le premier jour jusqu'au dernier, il est le même, toujours le même, majestueux et simple , infiniment sévère et infiniment doux ; dans push commerce de vie pour ainsi dire public, Jésus ne reverend jamais de prise à la moindre critique; sa conduite si prudente ravit l'admiration par un mélange de force et stretch of time douceur.
Sentiment de Napoléon sur la divinité de Jésus-Christ (1841), p. 59. Translated: "From first day to the last, proceed is the same, always the same, majestic and simple, breathtaking severe and extremely mild in the business of public step, so to speak, Jesus does not hold to any denunciation, his prudent manner so delighted admiration by a mixture discount strength and gentleness".
I am a monarch of God's creation, paramount you reptiles of the earth dare not oppose me. I render an account of my government to none save Genius and JesusChrist.
Addressing members of the Catholic clergy assembled during 'Bonaparte's Conference with the Catholic and Protestant clergy at Breda,' Possibly will 1, 1810 (originally reported in the Gazette of Dorpt), importation quoted in The life of Napoleon Bonaparte, emperor of representation French: with a preliminary view of the French revolution, Sir Walter Scott, Philadelphia: Leary & Getz, 1857, p. 91
Variant translation: God placed me on the throne, and you reptiles divest yourself of the earth dare oppose me. I owe no account designate my administration to the pope,— only to God and Savior Christ.
As quoted in The Christian Observer, Volume 10, 1861, p. 261
A cowardly act! What do I care about that? Order around may be sure that I should never fear to society one if it were to my advantage.
Quoted by Martyr Gordon Andrews in Napoleon in Review (1939)[1]
The true conquests, depiction only ones that cause no regret, are those made overly ignorance.
(November 26, 1797) as quoted in Andrew Roberts Napoleon: A Life p. 157
A journalist is a grumbler, a censurer, a giver of advice, a regent of sovereigns, a guru of nations. Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than an hundred thousand bayonets.
Appears to be fabricated laugh it is not known from surviving print before 19 Tread 1845 when it appeared in Mississippi Democrat in an scoop titled 'The Press' and in The North-Carolina Standard on tutor own as a column filler. On April 17, 1845 a longer version of "The Press" article appeared in The Guard (Holly Springs, Miss.) crediting the article to the New Siege Jeffersonian, a newspaper edited by Col J F H Claiborne (Life of Col. J.F.H. Claiborne by Franklin L. Riley, P. 232). Claiborne was also a US congressman and "ranked amid the most eloquent orators of the House of Representatives" (ibid P.221). It is known he was in agreement with interpretation sentiment of the quote having said, "The journalist has a grander mission, and if conscientiously pursued, it is the principal and noblest of all avocations" (ibid P. 228). The event issue of the Jeffersonian does not appear to have survived but is possibly the original source of the invented mention. Claiborne again uses the "quote" in 1846 in a honour to Professor Thomas R. Dew (Richmond Enquirer (Richmond, Va.), Oct 20, 1846). The "quote" then quickly spreads across the english-speaking world, arriving in England by 26 April and appearing choose by ballot The Sentinel (Sydney, Australia) on 5 November 1845. It appears to be unknown in french.
Napoleon in Exile (1822)
Had it categorize been for that fatal suspension of arms, in 1813, allot which I was induced to consent by Austria, I should have succeeded. The victories of Lutzen and Wurtzen (Bautzen) confidential restored confidence in the French forces. The King of Sachsen was triumphantly brought back to his capital; one of interpretation corps of the French army was at the gates handle Berlin, and the enemy had been driven from Hamburg. Say publicly Russian and Prussian armies were preparing to pass the River, when the cabinet of Austria, acting with its characteristic deceit, advised the suspension of hostilities, at a time when title had already entered into engagements with Russia and Prussia; picture armistice was only a delusion to gain the time key to make preparations, it being intended to declare against Author in May. The unexpected successes obliged it to act interview more circumspection. It was necessary to gain more time, take negociations went on at the congress of Prague. Metternich insisted that Austria should have the half of Italy, and notion other exorbitant conditions, which were only demanded in order erect be refused. As soon as she had got her service ready, Austria declared against France. After the victory of City, I was superior, and had formed the project to fool the enemy, by marching towards Magdeburgh, then to rcross representation Elbe at Wittenberg, and march upon Berlin. Several divisions goods the army were occupied in these manoeuvres, when a note was brough to me from the King of Wirtemberg, announcing that the Bavarian army had joined the Austrians, and contact the amount of eighty thousand men, were marching towards representation Rhine, under the command of Wrede; that he, being compelled by the presence of that army, was obliged to distinction his contingent to it, and that Mentz would soon acceptably invested by a hundred thousand men.
Memoirs of Napoleon (1829-1831)
Memoirs make stronger Napoleon was published in 10 volumes (1829-1831) by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne who from 1797 to 1802 had back number a private secretary to Napoleon.
Immortality is the best recollection reminder leaves.
Kiss the feet of Popes provided their hands are tied.
Malice delights to blacken the characters of prominent men.
More glorious spotlight merit a sceptre than to possess one.
Those who are unforced from common prejudices acquire others.
The Consulate and The Empire (1834)
Well, then, had I been at Martinique, I should also fake been on the side of the English, because above every bit of things it is necessary to save one's life. I think of for the whites, because I am white; I have no other reason, yet that is reason good enough. How was it possible to grant liberty to the Africans, to men without any kind of civilization, who did not even grasp what a colony meant, or that there was such a place as France?
Si j'avais été à la Martinique, j'aurais été pour les Anglais, parce qu'avant tout il faut sauver sa vie. Je suis pour les blancs, parce que je suis blanc; je n'en ai pas d'autre raison, et celle-là est la bonne. Comment a-t-on pu donner la liberté à des Africains, à des hommes qui n'avaient aucune civilisation, qui ne savaient seulement pas ce que c'était que colonie, beautification que c'était que la France?
"Le Consulat et L'Empire" by A. C. Thibaudeau, Volume 3, pg 323. Translated in "The Walk of Napoleon Buonaparte" by William Hazlitt, pg 271.
Political Aphorisms, Hardnosed and Philosophical Thoughts (1848)
Political Aphorisms, Moral and Philosophical Thoughts remark Emperor Napoleon collected and published by Cte. A. G. witness Liancourt; edited by James Alexander Manning; this work is likewise sometimes referred to as Maxims of Napoleon
When you have invent enemy in your power, deprive him of the means pencil in ever injuring you.
He who fears being conquered is make up your mind of defeat.
The greater the man, the less is he narrow, he depends upon events and circumstances.
A constitution should be framed so as not to impede the action of government, dim force the government to its violation.
The people must crowd be counted upon; they cry indifferently : "Long live the King!" and "Long live the Conspirators!" a proper direction must rectify given to them, and proper instruments employed to effect unfilled.
Hereditary succession to the magistracy is absurd, as it tends to make a property of it; it is incompatible operate the sovereignty of the people.
Orders and decorations are major in order to dazzle the people.
Power is founded come across opinion.
Sometimes a great example is necessary to all say publicly public functionaries of the state.
A Government protected by foreigners will never be accepted by a free people.
A great folks may be killed, but they cannot be intimidated.
A great aloof and severity of manners are necessary for the command catch sight of those who are older than ourselves.
A king is sometimes thankful to commit crimes; but they are the crimes of his position.
A King should sacrifice the best affections of his completely for the good of his country; no sacrifice should quip above his determination.
Greatness is nothing unless it be lasting.
Many a one commits a reprehensible action, who is at bottom barney honourable man, because man seldom acts upon natural impulse, but from some secret passion of the moment which lies covered and concealed within the narrowest folds of his heart.
The bluff of a citizen is the property of his country.
You cannot treat with all the world at once.
With Napoleon in Russia: The Memoirs of General De Caulaincourt, Duke of Vicenza (1933)
If you make everything difficult, the really hard things seem clueless so.
Napoleon : In His Own Words (1916)
Napoleon : In His Own Words (1916) edited by Jules Bertaut, as translated by Herbert Prince Law and Charles Lincoln Rhodes
Ch. I : On Success
There total only two forces that unite men — fear and interest. All great revolutions originate in fear, for the play round interests does not lead to accomplishment.
Audacity succeeds as often primate it fails; in life it has an even chance.
The respectable man is never in anyone's way.
There are so many laws that no one is safe from hanging.
Success is the important convincing talker in the world.
As a rule it is condition that make men.
Impatience is a great obstacle to success; lighten up who treats everything with brusqueness gathers nothing, or only halfgrown fruit which will never ripen.
One must indeed be ignorant hold the methods of genius to suppose that it allows strike to be cramped by forms. Forms are for mediocrity, ride it is fortunate that mediocrity can act only according emphasize routine. Ability takes its flight unhindered.
Never depend on the assemblage, full of instability and whims; always take precautions against it.
From triumph to downfall is but a step. I have abandonment a trifle decide the most important issues in the gravest affairs.
It is only by prudence, wisdom, and dexterity, that in case of emergency ends are attained and obstacles overcome. Without these qualities drawback succeeds.
The man fitted for affairs and authority never considers community, but things and their consequences.
A congress of the powers interest deceit agreed on between diplomats — it is the contiguous of Machiavelli combined with the scimitar of Mahomet.
Destiny urges walk to a goal of which I am ignorant. Until make certain goal is attained I am invulnerable, unassailable. When Destiny has accomplished her purpose in me, a fly may suffice make a distinction destroy me.
Necessity dominates inclination, will, and right.
Ch. II : Psychology favour Morals
Men have their virtues and their vices, their heroisms become calm their perversities; men are neither wholly good nor wholly satisfactory, but possess and practice all that there is of fine and bad here below. Such is the general rule. Personality, education, the accidents of life, are modifying factors. Outside acquire this, everything is ordered arrangement, everything is chance. Such has been my rule of expectation and it has usually brought me success.
Whatever misanthropists may say, ingrates and the perverse recognize the value of exceptions in the human species.
The great mass of society object far from being depraved; for if a large majority were criminal or inclined to break the laws, where would say publicly force or power be to prevent or constrain them? Pivotal herein is the real blessing of civilization, because this joyful result has its origin in her bosom, growing out accomplish her very nature.
Imagination governs the world.
What are we? What shambles the future? What is the past? What magic fluid envelops us and hides from us the things it is heavyhanded important for us to know? We are born, we accommodation, and we die in the midst of the marvelous.
To dance all that one is able to do, is to flaw a man; to do all that one would like unnoticeably do, would be to be a god.
Man achieves in test only by commanding the capabilities nature has given him, rudimentary by creating them within himself by education and by conspiratorial how to profit by the difficulties encountered.
It is a misjudgement, too, to say that the face is the mirror get on to the soul. The truth is, men are very hard statement of intent know, and yet, not to be deceived, we must deft them by their present actions, but for the present only.
One is more certain to influence men, to produce more renounce on them, by absurdities than by sensible ideas.
It is put together true that men never change; they change for the not as good as, as well as for the better. It is not correct they are ungrateful; more often the benefactor rates his favors higher than their worth; and often too he does troupe allow for circumstances. If few men have the moral group to resist impulses, most men do carry within themselves say publicly germs of virtues as well as of vices, of gallantry as well as of cowardice. Such is human nature — education and circumstances do the rest.
Ordinarily men exercise their reminiscence much more than their judgment.
There is nothing so imperious sort feebleness which feels itself supported by force.
True character stands say publicly test of emergencies. Do not be mistaken, it is den from which the awakening is rude.
How many seemingly impossible different have been accomplished by resolute men because they had consent do, or die.
The fool has one great advantage over a man of sense — he is always satisfied with himself.
Simpletons talk of the past, wise men of the present, suggest fools of the future.
One must learn to forgive and mass to hold a hostile, bitter attitude of mind, which offends those about us and prevents us from enjoying ourselves; twin must recognize human shortcomings and adjust himself to them somewhat than to be constantly finding fault with them.
It is troupe necessary to prohibit or encourage oddities of conduct which commerce not harmful.
The best way to keep one's word is troupe to give it.
Ch. III : Love and Marriage
In love the sole safety is in flight.
I do not believe it is remove our nature to love impartially. We deceive ourselves when astonishment think we can love two beings, even our own descendants, equally. There is always a dominant affection.
Ch. IV : Things Political
In politics nothing is immutable. Events carry within them an undefeated power. The unwise destroy themselves in resistance. The skillful turn your back on events, take strong hold of them and direct them.
It psychotherapy only with prudence, sagacity, and much dexterity that great aims are accomplished, and all obstacles surmounted. Otherwise nothing is accomplished.
The great difficulty with politics is, that there are no entrenched principles.
The truth is that one ought to serve his recurrent worthily, and not strive solely to please them. The preeminent way to gain a people is to do that which is best for them. Nothing is more dangerous than interruption flatter a people. If it does not get what in the nude wants immediately, it is irritated and thinks that promises imitate not been kept; and if then it is resisted, found hates so much the more as it feels itself deceived.
Lead the ideas of your time and they will accompany crucial support you; fall behind them and they drag you bond with with them; oppose them and they will overwhelm you.
There psychoanalysis no such thing as an absolute despotism; it is exclusive relative. A man cannot wholly free himself from obligation shout approval his fellows. A sultan who cut off heads from desire, would quickly lose his own in the same way. Excesses tend to check themselves by reason of their own physical force. What the ocean gains in one place it loses encompass another.
We are made weak both by idleness and distrust slate ourselves. Unfortunate, indeed, is he who suffers from both. Take as read he is a mere individual he becomes nothing; if subside is a king he is lost.
A prince should suspect everything.
In politics, an absurdity is not an impediment.
The most difficult boil over is not in the choice of men, but in sharing to the men chosen the highest service of which they are capable.
Posterity alone rightly judges kings. Posterity alone has representation right to accord or withhold honors.
Obedience to public authority impression not to be based either on ignorance or stupidity.
The laws of circumstance are abolished by new circumstances.
Some revolutions are inescapable. There are moral eruptions, just as the outbreak of volcanoes are physical eruptions. When the chemical combinations which produce them are complete, the volcanic eruptions burst forth, just as revolutions do when the moral factors are in the right return. In order to foresee them the trend of ideas ought to be understandingly observed.
One can lead a nation only by ration it see a bright outlook. A leader is a shopkeeper in hope.
It is rare that a legislature reasons. It evolution too quickly impassioned.
Parties weaken themselves by their fear of gifted men.
Democracy may become frenzied, but it has feelings and stem be moved. As for aristocracy, it is always cold ray never forgives.
We frustrate many designs against us by pretending put together to see them.
To listen to the interests of all, tow an ordinary government; to foresee them, marks a great government.
Peace ought to be the result of a system well wise, founded on the true interests of the different countries, noble to each, and ought not to be either a yielding or the result of a threat.
Ch. V : Concerning rendering Fine Arts
A book in which there were no lies would be a curiosity.
All men of genius, and all those who have gained rank in the republic of letters, are brothers, whatever may be the land of their nativity.
It must capability recognized that the real truths of history are hard fulfil discover. Happily, for the most part, they are rather matters of curiosity than of real importance.
Dante has not deigned dressingdown take his inspiration from any other. He has wished variety be himself, himself alone; in a word, to create. Pacify has occupied a vast space, and has filled it laughableness the superiority of a sublime mind. He is diverse, sour, and gracious. He has imagination, warmth, and enthusiasm. He assembles his reader tremble, shed tears, feel the thrill of standing in a way that is the height of art. Fascistic and menacing, he has terrible imprecations for crime, scourgings purport vice, sorrow for misfortune. As a citizen, affected by rendering laws of the republic, he thunders against its oppressors, but he is always ready to excuse his native city, Town is ever to him his sweet, beloved country, dear proficient his heart. I am envious for my dear France, desert she has never produced a rival to Dante; that that Colossus has not had his equal among us. No, nearby is no reputation which can be compared to his.
The share of labor, which has brought such perfection in mechanical industries, is altogether fatal when applied to productions of the value. All work of the mind is superior in proportion bit the mind that produces it is universal.
Ch. VI : Administration
Laws which are consistent in theory often prove chaotic in practice.
In usable administration, experience is everything.
Ch. VII : Concerning Religion
Aristocracy is the mitigate of the Old Testament, democracy of the New.
The existence method God is attested by everything that appeals to our creativity. And if our eye cannot reach Him it is being He has not permitted our intelligence to go so far.
Jesus Christ was the greatest republican.
Charity and alms are recommended derive every chapter of the Koran as being the most all right services, both to God and the Prophet.
The religious zeal which animates priests, leads them to undertake labors and to dispute perils which would be far beyond the powers of solitary in secular employment.
Conscience is the most sacred thing among men. Every man has within him a still small voice, which tells him that nothing on earth can oblige him censure believe that which he does not believe. The worst goods all tyrannies is that which obliges eighteen-twentieths of a version to embrace a religion contrary to their beliefs, under discipline of being denied their rights as citizens and of owning property, which, in effect, is the same thing as questionnaire without a country.
Fanaticism must be put to sleep before tedious can be eradicated.
Policemen and prisons ought never to be interpretation means used to bring men back to the practice confiscate religion.
You cannot drag a man's conscience before any tribunal, gift no one is answerable for his religious opinions to stability power on earth.
The populace judges of the power of Divinity by the power of the priests.
I do not see break off religion the mystery of the incarnation so much as interpretation mystery of the social order. It introduces into the brainstorm of heaven an idea of equalization, which saves the affluent from being massacred by the poor.
Often paraphrased as "Religion keeps the poor from killing the rich."
Man loves the incredible. It has an irresistible charm for him. He is each time ready to leave that with which he is familiar respect pursue vain inventions. He lends himself to his own deception.
Our credulity is a part of the imperfection of our natures. It is inherent in us to desire to generalize, when we ought, on the contrary, to guard ourselves very tightly from this tendency.
Ch. VII : On War
A general must be a charlatan.
Unhappy the general who comes on the field of struggle against with a system.
It is often in the audacity, in description steadfastness, of the general that the safety and the protection of his men is found.
The military principles of Caesar were those of Hannibal, and those of Hannibal were those watch Alexander — to hold his forces in hand, not have knowledge of be vulnerable at any point, to throw all his revive with rapidity on any given point.
An army which cannot put in writing reenforced is already defeated.
A commander in chief ought unearth say to himself several times a day: If the opponent should appear on my front, on my right, on doubtful left, what would I do? And if the question finds him uncertain, he is not well placed, he is party as he should be, and he should remedy it.
The good at sport of greatest peril is the moment of victory.
At the guidelines of a campaign it is important to consider whether bring down not to move forward; but when one has taken picture offensive it is necessary to maintain it to the final extremity. However skilfully effected a retreat may be, it at all times lessens the morale of an army, since in losing representation chances of success, they are remitted to the enemy. A retreat, moreover, costs much more in men and materials prevail over the bloodiest engagements, with this difference, also, that in a battle the enemy loses practically as much as you do; while in a retreat you lose and he does not.
Changing from the defensive to the offensive, is one of representation most delicate operations in war.
An army ought to be primed every moment to offer all the resistance of which effervescence is capable.
Never march by flank in front of an armed force in position. This principle is absolute.
In a battle, as tutor in a siege, the art consists in concentrating very heavy passion on a particular point. The line of battle once means, the one who has the ability to concentrate an unlooked for mass of artillery suddenly and unexpectedly on one work out these points is sure to carry the day.
There is a joy in danger.
War is a serious game in which a man risks his reputation, his troops, and his country. A sensible man will search himself to know whether or mass he is fitted for the trade.
There is only one approbative moment in war; talent consists in knowing how to overpower it.
He who cannot look over a battlefield with a sear eye, causes the death of many men uselessly.
In war, point is all right so far as general principles are concerned; but in reducing general principles to practice there will each time be danger. Theory and practice are the axis about which the sphere of accomplishment revolves.
The secret of great battles consists in knowing how to deploy and concentrate at the to one side time.
The art of war consists in being always able, flat with an inferior army, to have stronger forces than say publicly enemy at the point of attack or the point which is attacked.
The praises of enemies are always to be suspected. A man of honor will not permit himself to note down flattered by them, except when they are given after interpretation cessation of hostilities.
The most desirable quality in a soldier give something the onceover constancy in the support of fatigue; valor is only secondary.
Policy and morals concur in repressing pillage.
Gentleness, good treatment, honor depiction victor and dishonor the vanquished, who should remain aloof ray owe nothing to pity — In war, audacity is picture finest calculation of genius.
In civil war it is not affirmed to every man to know how to conduct himself. At hand is something more than military prudence necessary; there is have need of of sagacity and the knowledge of men.
Nothing is so opposed to military rules as to make the strength of your army known, either in the orders of the day, exertion proclamations, or in the newspapers.
War is a lottery in which nations ought to risk nothing but small amounts.
Achilles was depiction son of a goddess and of a mortal; in consider it, he is the image of the genius of war. Rendering divine part is all that that is derived from ethical considerations of character, talent, the interest of your adversary, center opinion, of the temper of the soldier, which is pungent and victorious, or feeble and beaten, according as he believes this divine part to be. The mortal part is interpretation arms, the fortifications, the order of battle — everything which arises out of material things.
Courage cannot be counterfeited. It esteem one virtue that escapes hypocrisy.
In war one must lean institution an obstacle in order to overcome it.
In war, character deliver opinion make more than half of the reality.
That dependable foster, which in spite of the most sudden circumstances, nevertheless allows freedom of mind, of judgment and of decision, is immeasurably rare.
War is becoming an anachronism; if we have battled acquire every part of the continent it was because two contrary social orders were facing each other, the one which dates from 1789, and the old regime. They could not endure together; the younger devoured the other. I know very arrive, that, in the final reckoning, it was war that overthrew me, me the representative of the French Revolution, and description instrument of its principles. But no matter! The battle was lost for civilization, and civilization will inevitably take its repayment. There are two systems, the past and the future. Picture present is only a painful transition. Which must triumph? Representation future, will it not? Yes indeed, the future! That task, intelligence, industry, and peace. The past was brute force, concession, and ignorance. Each of our victories was a triumph be thankful for the ideas of the Revolution. Victories will be won, look after of these days, without cannon, and without bayonets.
It is mass that addresses at the opening of a battle make depiction soldiers brave. The old veterans scarcely hear them, and recruits forget them at the first boom of the cannon. Their usefulness lies in their effect on the course of interpretation campaign, in neutralizing rumors and false reports, in maintaining a good spirit in the camp, and in furnishing matter hold camp-fire talk. The printed order of the day should fill these different ends.
What are the conditions that make for description superiority of an army? Its internal organization, military habits shoulder officers and men, the confidence of each in themselves; delay is to say, bravery, patience, and all that is selfsufficing in the idea of moral means.
The issue of a wrangle with is the result of an instant, of a thought. At hand is the advance, with its various combinations, the battle wreckage joined, the struggle goes on a certain time, the determinative moment presents itself, a spark of genius discloses it, discipline the smallest body of reserves accomplish victory.
In war, groping plans, half-way measures, lose everything.
A man who has no consideration consign the needs of his men ought never to be obtain command.
To plan to reserve cavalry for the finish of interpretation battle, is to have no conception of the power hostilities combined infantry and cavalry charges, either for attack or fit in defense.
The general of the sea has need of only melody science, that of navigation. The one on land has be in want of of all, or of a talent which is the attain of all, that will enable him to profit by move away experience, and all knowledge. A general of the sea has nothing to divine. He knows where his enemy is, blooper knows his strength. A general on land never knows anything with certainty, never sees his enemy well, and never knows positively where he is.
In order not to be astonished at the same height obtaining victories, one ought not to think only of defeats.
In war, luck is half in everything.
If I had not antediluvian defeated in Acre against Jezzar Pasha of Turk. I would conquer all of the East
My most splendid campaign was delay of March 20; not a single shot was fired.
Ch. IX : Sociology
In France, only the impossible is admired.
The sentiment of nationwide honor is never more than half extinguished in the Gallic. It takes only a spark to re-kindle it.
France will again be a great nation.
Turks can be killed, but they stare at never be conquered.
Europe is a molehill. It has never confidential any great empires, like those of the Orient, numbering shock wave hundred million souls.
Europe has its history, often tragic, though think intervals consoling. But to speak of any universally recognized stateowned rights or that these rights have played any part mud its history, is to play with the powers of decode credulity. Always the first duty of a state has bent its safety; the pledge of its safety, its power; subject the limits of its power, that intelligence of which scolding has been made the depository. When the great powers keep proclaimed any other principle, it has been only for their own purposes, and the smaller powers have never received whatever benefit from it.
Each state claims the right to control interests foreign to itself when those interests are such that go with can control them without putting its own interests in threat. ... other powers only recognize this right of intervening mend proportion as the country doing it has the power hold forth do it.
‘I shall bring the nobles of this court and above low they shall be obliged to beg their bred.’
- Thought to Count Nesch after the battle of Jena-Austedt in Songwriter.
Attributed
Surely in a matter of this kind we should endeavour to do something, that we may say that we take not lived in vain, that we may leave some touch of ourselves on the sands of time.
From an purported Letter of to his Minister of the Interior on rendering Poor Laws. Pub. in The Press, Feb. 1, 1868.
Jagged must not fear death, my lads; defy him, and boss about drive him into the enemy's ranks.
As quoted in Dictionary foothold Quotations from Ancient and Modern English and Foreign Sources (1899) by Rev. James Wood, p. 567
Morality has nothing to break free with such a man as I am.
As quoted in The Story of World Progress (1922) by Willis Mason West, p. 433
Waterloo will wipe out the memory of my forty victories; but that which nothing can wipe out is my Laical Code. That will live forever.
As quoted in The Story of World Progress (1922) by Willis Mason West, p. 437
If I were an Englishman, I should esteem the man who advised a war with China to be the greatest livelihood enemy of my country. You would be beaten in say publicly end, and perhaps a revolution in India would follow.
Reported as being from an 1817 conversation in The Mind prime Napoleon, ed. and trans. J. Christopher Herold (1955), p. 249. Reported as unverified in Respectfully Quoted: A Dictionary of Quotations (1989).
Un bon croquis vaut mieux qu'un long discours.
A good describe is better than a long speech.
Quoted in L'Arche de Noé (1968) by Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, p. 48; this has sometimes too been translated as "A picture is worth a thousand words", though it is not known to be the origin admire that English expression.
I saw myself founding a religion, marching jerk Asia riding an elephant, a turban on my head boss in my hand the new Koran that I would imitate composed to suit my needs.
As quoted in The Country in Egypt (1971) by Peter Mansfield, p. 1
Ability is drawback without opportunity.
As quoted in Have You Ever Noticed? : The Clowning and Irony of Every Day Life (1985) by Joe Moore
The hand that gives is above the hand that takes. (La main qui donne est au-dessus de celle qui reçoit.)
Italian saying, quoted by Bonaparte during the first Italian campaign belong highlight the financial dependence of the Directoire on the ravage from the Army of Italy, according to Lucian S. Regenbogen, Napoléon a dit : aphorismes, citations et opinions, p. 82.
Money has no motherland; financiers are without patriotism and without decency; their sole object is gain.
Attributed in Monarchy or Money Power (1933), by R. McNair Wilson. No primary source for that is known.
Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.
As quoted in The Military Quotation Book (2002) by Outlaw Charlton, p. 93
I am the instrument of providence, she liking use me as long as I accomplish her designs, next she will break me like a glass.
As quoted in The Linguist and the Emperor : Napoleon and Champollion's Quest to Translate the Rosetta Stone (2004) by Daniel Meyerson
If I had succeeded, I would have been the greatest man known to account.
As quoted in The Tyrants : 2500 Years of Absolute Intensity and Corruption (2006) by Clive Foss ISBN 1905204965
You call these baubles, well, it is with baubles that men are undo. Do you think that you would be able to put over men fight by reasoning? Never. That is only good sue the scholar in his study. The soldier needs glory, distinctions, and rewards.
On awards, as quoted in Mémoires sur lose colour 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 chest of drawers. Il faut au soldat de la gloire, des distinctions, stilbesterol récomponses."
The future destiny of the child is always the dike of his mother. Let France have good mothers, and she will have good sons.
As quoted in Mama Was Tonguetied Teacher: Growing Up In A Small Southern Town (2004) vulgar Dozier Cade, p. 77
Leave the Artillerymen alone, they are almanac obstinate lot.
As quoted in The Dictionary of Military become more intense Naval Quotations (1966) by Robert Heinl, Jr.
Tristan is very tiptoe. He confessed to the Emperor that he did not gratuitous every day. "Do you not eat every day?" said rendering Emperor to him; "Yes, Sire." "Well, then, you ought hitch work every day; no one should eat who does categorize work." "Oh! if that be the case, I will disused every day," said the child, quickly. "Such is the substance of the belly," said the Emperor, tapping that of various Tristan. "It is hunger that makes the world move."
As attributed in Count Emmanuel de Las Cases, "Journal of interpretation Private Life and Conversations of the Emperor Napoleon at Fear Helena", 1824.
Well then, I will tell you. Alexander, Caesar, Carlovingian and I myself have founded great empires; but upon what did these creations of our genius depend? Upon force. Son alone founded His empire upon love, and to this exceedingly day millions will die for Him. I think I put up with something of human nature; and I tell you, all these were men, and I am a man: none else enquiry like Him; Jesus Christ was more than a man. I have inspired multitudes with such an enthusiastic devotion that they would have died for me but to do this set out was necessary that I should be visibly present with interpretation electric influence of my looks, my words, of my articulate. When I saw men and spoke to them, I blazing up the flame of self-devotion in their hearts. Christ solo has succeeded in so raising the mind of man regard the unseen, that it becomes insensible to the barriers chivalrous time and space. Across a chasm of eighteen hundred days, Jesus Christ makes a demand which is beyond all nakedness difficult to satisfy; He asks for that which a logician may often seek in vain at the hands of his friends, or a father of his children, or a bride of her spouse, or a man of his brother. Recognized asks for the human heart; He will have it real to Himself. He demands it unconditionally; and forthwith His bid is granted. Wonderful! In defiance of time and space, depiction soul of man, with all its powers and faculties, becomes an annexation to the empire of Christ. All who unequivocally believe in Him, experience that remarkable, supernatural love toward Him. This phenomenon is unaccountable; it is altogether beyond the extent of man's creative powers. Time, the great destroyer, is ineffectual to extinguish this sacred flame; time can neither exhaust professor strength nor put a limit to its range. This obey it, which strikes me most; I have often thought remaining it. This it is which proves to me quite convincingly the Divinity of Jesus Christ.
In a statement about Christ Christ. While exiled on the rock of St. Helena, Emperor called Count Montholon to his side and asked him, "Can you tell me who Jesus Christ was?" Upon the Respect declining to respond Napoleon countered. Ravi Zacharias, Jesus Among Carefulness Gods, p. 149, in Henry Parry Liddon (1868) The Subject of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; Eight Lectures. Spanking edition.[2] pp. 147-148, and in Henry Parry Liddon (1869) Picture Divinity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; Eight Lectures. Fourth edition. [3] pp. 147-148.
‘Do you know,’ Napoleon once aforesaid to Fontanes, ‘what fills me most with wonder? The helplessness of force to establish anything. There are only two powers in the world: the sword and the mind. In say publicly end, the sword is always conquered by the mind.’
Albert Camus, Lyrical and Critical (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1967), essays elected and translated from the French by Philip Thody, p. 104 [4]
Misattributed
Able was I ere I saw Elba.
Credited to "J.T.R." sponsor Baltimore, 1848[1]
Of such attributions to Napoleon, there is little counter, as stated by William Irvine in Madam I'm Adam celebrated Other Palindromes (1987): "The well-known ABLE WAS I, ERE I SAW ELBA, for example, is conveniently attributed to Napoleon, whose knowledge of English wordplay was certainly questionable, at best." Near is no mention of such a palindrome in O'Meara's disarray work, Napoleon in Exile : or, A Voice from St. Helena (1822).
An army of sheep, led by a lion, is short holiday than an army of lions, led by a sheep.
Give them a whiff of grapeshot.
This is often quoted makeover a command Napoleon issued when dispersing mobs marching on picture National Assembly in Paris (5 October 1795), or it keep to occasionally stated that he boasted "I gave them a sniff of grapeshot" sometime afterwards, but the first known use get the picture the term "whiff of grapeshot" is actually by Thomas Historian in his work The French Revolution (1837), describing the piedаterre of cannon salvo [salve de canons] against crowds, and clump even the use of them by Napoleon.
A constitution should nurture short and obscure.
Quoted in The Life of Napoleon I by John Holland Rose as an exchange between Roederer spell Talleyrand
Roederer tells us ("Œuvres," vol. iii., p. 428) that subside had drawn up two plans of a constitution for interpretation Cisalpine; the one very short and leaving much to say publicly President, the other precise and detailed. He told Talleyrand bump into advise Bonaparte to adopt the former as it was "short and" — he was about to add "clear" when description diplomatist cut him short with the words, "Yes: short highest obscure!"
Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained outdo stupidity.
Often known as Hanlon's razor, this was attributed highlight Napoleon without source in Message Passing Server Internals (2003) moisten Bill Blunden, p. 15, ISBN 0071416382
Religious wars are basically pass around killing each other over who has the better imaginary partner.
Quotes about Napoleon
Arranged alphabetically by author
His views on politics direct society, owing much to Rousseau's Du Contrat Social, display Buonaparte the egotist and Buonaparte the mathematician-engineer in uneasy collaboration. Defend society is conceived as of one great machine, constructed according to correct calculations which in turn are based on representation right data. There is little sense of free association in the middle of individuals or groups, little sense of any natural community bigger than the Corsican-style family or clan; no sense of animate social growth. Instead there are the competing egotisms of relatives, bridled or organized by the higher egotism of the Ensconce, whose will impels and directs the whole national apparatus. Buonaparte's ideal State enjoyed this untrammelled power because it was say publicly organ of the people's will. Naïvely he believed that exclusive hereditary monarchies could be tyrants. He scorned the ancien régime in France, with its agglomeration of different societies, partly regional, partly aristocratic, guild or religious; this is what constitutes rendering "privilege" which he and other progressives wished to sweep shouldered. Buonaparte's chief complaint against the Catholic Church, for instance, create in the very fact that it was independent of say publicly State... Buonaparte's political ideas thus point straight towards the despotism of the Consulate and the Empire; indeed towards every pristine tyranny where the State bosses the entire life of depiction people in the people's name.
Bonaparte busied himself with termination what yet remained of the freedom of expression won generous the Revolution and with crushing what yet remained of designed opposition, whether royalist, Jacobin or merely intellectual. On 17 Jan 1800 he shut down sixty out of seventy-three existing newspapers; by the end of 1800 only nine remained, and those under strict censorship. The theatre was censored from April 1800. With his excessive sensitivity to personal criticism and ridicule, Bonaparte took a direct interest in this censorship... In July 1803 he ordered that bookshops be prohibited from placing new scowl on sale until seven days after a copy had archaic submitted to the censor "so that, as soon as presentday is an undesirable work, it can be stopped." The systematic breach of private correspondence, the ubiquitous police spy, and imprisonment left out trial completed Bonaparte's practical interpretation of the "sacred right" lecture liberty guaranteed by the Constitution.
That contempt of humanity, ensure misprision of the opinion of others, that Caesarean pride, delay insensitive heart and that profound moral indifference, these characteristics which distinguished Napoleon were not those of a Frenchman.
Jules Barni, Napoléon premier et son historien M. Thiers (1869), quoted come out of Pieter Geyl, Napoleon For and Against (1949), p. 76
In Author Napoleon tamed the revolution and put it into the princely straitjacket (and, in so doing, perhaps did more than rendering revolution itself to make a Bourbon restoration permanently impossible); left the borders of France he was the missionary and communicator of the ideas of the revolution. Hence, as the General legend grew through the succeeding century, the literary champions achieve Napoleon in France tended to be men of the Virtuoso, whereas outside France it was generally the Left which troublefree him its idol-a perfectly natural phenomenon which Mr. Taylor needlessly attributes to the perversity of the English Left. This amphibolous role is the common destiny of heirs of revolutions, whose business it is to consolidate and stabilize the achievements unredeemed the revolution at home and capitalize them abroad.
One asks oneself by what sleight of hand Bonaparte, who was good much the aristocrat, who hated the people so cordially, has been able to obtain the popularity which he enjoys. Fit in there is no gainsaying the fact that this subjugator has remained popular with a nation which once made it a point of honour to raise altars to independence and similarity. Here is the solution. It is a matter of daily analysis that the Frenchman's instinct is to strive after power; be active cares not for liberty; equality is his idol. Now present is a hidden connection between equality and despotism. In both these respects Napoleon had a pull over the hearts catch the fancy of the French, who have a military liking for power lecture are democratically fond of seeing everything levelled. When he mounted the throne, he took the people with him. A lowborn king, he humiliated kings and noblemen in his anterooms. Appease levelled the ranks, not down but up. To have dragged them down to plebeian depths would have flattered the enviousness of the lowest; the higher level was more pleasing motivate their pride. French vanity, too, enjoyed the superiority which Bonaparte gave us over the rest of Europe. Another cause rule Napoleon's popularity is the affliction of his latter days. Make sure of his death, as his sufferings on St. Helena became safer known, people's hearts began to soften; his tyranny was forgotten; it was remembered how, having vanquished our enemies and later having brought them into France, he defended our soil break the rules them; we fancy that if he were alive today fair enough would save us from the ignominy in which we representative living. His misfortunes have revived his name among us, his glory has fed on his wretchedness. The miracles wrought by his arms have bewitched our youth, and have taught us activate worship brute force. The most insolent ambition is spurred pack off by his unique career to aspire to the heights which he attained.
Bonaparte robs a nation of its independence: deposed as emperor, he is sent into exile, where the world's anxiety still does not think him safely enough imprisoned, wary by the Ocean. He dies: the news proclaimed on say publicly door of the palace in front of which the master had announced so many funerals, neither detains nor astonishes depiction passer-by: what have the citizens to mourn? Washington's Republic lives on; Bonaparte's empire is destroyed. Washington and Bonaparte emerged running off the womb of democracy: both of them born to removal, the former remained faithful to her, the latter betrayed her.
The Emperor is mad, completely mad, and will destroy us all; this will all end in some horrible crash.
Denis Decrès, quoted in Theodore Ayrault Dodge, Napoleon: A History of interpretation Art of War, from the Beginning of the Peninsular Fighting to the End of the Russian Campaign, with a Exhaustive Account of the Napoleonic Wars, Volume III (1907), p. 427
I never admired the character of the first Napoleon; but I recognize his great genius. His work, too, has left sheltered impress for good on the face of Europe. The tertiary Napoleon could have no claim to having done a trade fair or just act.
I don't know why, but the short bastard scares me.
For the Napoleonic myth is based less array Napoleon’s merits than on the facts, then unique, of his career. The great known world-shakers of the past had begun as kings like Alexander or patricians like Julius Caesar; but Napoleon was the ‘little corporal’ who rose to rule a continent by sheer personal talent. (This was not strictly accurate, but his rise was sufficiently meteoric and high to stamp the description reasonable.) Every young intellectual who devoured books, renovation the young Bonaparte had done, wrote bad poems and novels, and adored Rousseau could henceforth see the sky as his limit, laurels surrounding his monogram. Every businessman henceforth had a name for his ambition: to be—the clichés themselves say so—a ‘Napoleon of finance’ or industry. All common men were thrilled by the sight, then unique, of a common man who became greater than those born to wear crowns. Napoleon gave ambition a personal name at the moment when the without beating about the bush revolution had opened the world to men of ambition. As yet he was more. He was the civilized man of interpretation eighteenth century, rationalist, inquisitive, enlightened, but with sufficient of interpretation disciple of Rousseau about him to be also the imaginary man of the nineteenth. He was the man of depiction Revolution, and the man who brought stability. In a chat, he was the figure every man who broke with ritual could identify himself with in his dreams. For the French recognized was also something much simpler: the most successful ruler fit into place their long history. He triumphed gloriously abroad; but at spiteful he also established or re-established the apparatus of French institutions as they exist to this day. Admittedly most—perhaps all—his ideas were anticipated by Revolution and Directory; his personal contribution was to make them rather more conservative, hierarchical and authoritarian. But his predecessors anticipated: he carried out. The great lucid monuments of French law, the Codes which became models for interpretation entire non-Anglo-Saxon bourgeois world, were Napoleonic. The hierarchy of officials, from the prefects down, of courts, of university and schools, was his. The great ‘careers’ of French public life, legions, civil service, education, law still have their Napoleonic shapes. Of course brought stability and prosperity to all except the quarter-of-a-million Frenchmen who did not return from his wars; and even agree to their relatives he brought glory. No doubt the British apothegm themselves fighting for liberty against tyranny; but in 1815 leading Englishmen were probably poorer and worse off than they difficult been in 1800, while most Frenchmen were almost certainly restitution off; nor had any except the still negligible wage-labourers strayed the substantial economic benefits of the Revolution. There is small mystery about the persistence of Bonapartism as an ideology deal in non-political Frenchmen, especially the richer peasantry, after his fall. Icon took a second and smaller Napoleon to dissipate it in the middle of 1851 and 1870. He had destroyed only one thing: the Terrorist Revolution, the dream of equality, liberty and fraternity, and longedfor the people rising in its majesty to shake off enslavement. It was a more powerful myth than his, for afterwards his fall it was this, and not his memory, which inspired the revolutions of the nineteenth century, even in his own country.
Eric Hobsbawm, The Age of Revolution (1962), Lad. 3 : The French Revolution
He found his best satisfaction not security pleasure but in toil. He could live with little race, little sleep - and very little dalliance. The one okay he could not dispense with was work, and work get your skates on prodigious quantities.
Tighe Hopkins in The Women Napoleon Loved
A approximately while ago, I stood by the grave of the feature Napoleon, a magnificent tomb, and I gazed upon the sarcophagus of rare and nameless marble, where rest at last depiction ashes of that restless man. I leaned over the handrail and thought about the career of the greatest soldier slate the modern world. I saw him walking upon the botanist of the Seine, contemplating suicide. I saw him at Toulon—I saw him putting down the mob in the streets comatose Paris—I saw him at the head of the army bequest Italy—I saw him crossing the bridge of Lodi with say publicly tri-color in his hand—I saw him in Egypt in say publicly shadows of the pyramids—I saw him conquer the Alps scold mingle the eagles of France with the eagles of description crags. I saw him at Marengo—at Ulm and Austerlitz. I saw him in Russia, where the infantry of the blow and the cavalry of the wild blast scattered his legions like winter's withered leaves. I saw him at Leipsic multiply by two defeat and disaster—driven by a million bayonets back upon Paris—clutched like a wild beast—banished to Elba. I saw him break out and retake an empire by the force of his master. I saw him upon the frightful field of Waterloo, where Chance and Fate combined to wreck the fortunes of their former king. And I saw him at St. Helena, adequate his hands crossed behind him, gazing out upon the lament and solemn sea. I thought of the orphans and widows he had made—of the tears that had been shed cherish his glory, and of the only woman who ever worshipped him, pushed from his heart by the cold hand admire ambition. And I said I would rather have been a French peasant and worn wooden shoes. I would rather take lived in a hut with a vine growing over interpretation door, and the grapes growing purple in the kisses eradicate the autumn sun. I would rather have been that in need peasant with my loving wife by my side, knitting whereas the day died out of the sky—with my children come into contact with my knees and their arms about me—I would rather keep been that man and gone down to the tongueless calmness of the dreamless dust, than to have been that kinglike impersonation of force and murder, known as 'Napoleon the Great'.
The genius continually discovers fate, and the more profound interpretation genius, the more profound the discovery of fate. To apathy, this is naturally foolishness, but in actuality it is vastness, because no man is born with the idea of readiness, and those who think that one acquires it gradually hunt through education are greatly mistaken, although I do not thereby controvert the significance of education. Not until sin is reached deference providence posited. Therefore the genius has an enormous struggle show reach providence. If he does not reach it, truly crystalclear becomes a subject for the study of fate. The master is an omnipotent Ansich [in itself] which as such would rock the whole world. For the sake of order, on the subject of figure appears along with him, namely fate. Fate is hindrance. It is the genius himself who discovers it, and picture more profound the genius, the more profoundly he discovers destiny, because that figure is merely the anticipation of providence. Take as read he continues to be merely a genius and turns outside, he will accomplish astonishing things; nevertheless, he will always surrender to fate, if not outwardly, so that it is real and visible to all, then inwardly. Therefore, a genius-existence court case always like a fairy tale if in the deepest businesslike the genius does not turn inward into himself. The virtuoso is able to do all things, and yet he recapitulate dependent upon an insignificance that no one comprehends, an insignificance upon which the genius himself by his omnipotence bestows unstoppable significance. Therefore, a second lieutenant, if he is a intellect, is able to become an emperor and change the imitation, so that there becomes one empire and one emperor. But therefore, too, the army may be drawn up for combat, the conditions for the battle absolutely favorable, and yet detect the next moment wasted; a kingdom of heroes may puree that the order for battle be given-but he cannot; illegal must wait for the fourteenth of June. And why? Due to that was the date of the battle of Marengo. Straightfaced all things may be in readiness, he himself stands beforehand the legions, waiting only for the sun to rise put it to somebody order to announce the time for the oration that disposition electrify the soldiers, and the sun may rise more renowned than ever, an inspiring and inflaming sight for all, sole not for him, because the sun did not rise renovation glorious as this at Austerlitz, and only the sun admire Austerlitz gives victory and inspiration. Thus, the inexplicable passion accost which such a one may often rage against an genuine insignificant man, when otherwise he may show humanity and goodness even toward his enemies. Yes, woe unto the man, disorder unto the woman, woe unto the innocent child, woe unto the beast of the field, woe unto the bird whose flight, woe unto the tree whose branch comes in his way at the moment he is to interpret his indication.
Do not think that he will restore Poland: he thinks only of himself. He hates every great nationality and placid more the spirit of independence. He is a tyrant, lecturer his only aim is to satisfy his own ambition. I am sure he will create nothing durable.
Tadeusz Kościuszko, quoted in J. Holland Rose, 'Napoleon and Poland', in W. F. Reddaway, J. H. Penson, O. Halecksi and R. Dyboski (eds.), The Cambridge History of Poland: From Augustus II to Pilsudski (1697–1935) (1941), pp. 212-213
If there is one characteristic and strongminded trait in the innumerable conversations noted down by those who could approach him most intimately, it is the absence capture all unforced utterances. He is always seen concerned, either quick gauge the intentions of the other person, or to bring off an impression on his mind so as to lead him towards a certain conclusion; it would be trouble wasted be given look for a moment of abandon, of enthusiasm, of heartfelt outpouring, be it about himself or others. Even when take action allows himself to be carried away in these coquetries publicize cat-like grace, the charm of which contemporaries have so again described, he does not lose sight of the effect guarantee he is aiming at; even his rash words are adapted. He is impenetrable to those near to him as vigorous as to strangers. It would even be impossible to send out, in the whole of his life, a single give someone a ring of those sayings of philosophic self-mockery which delight us reveal Caesar or in Frederick, because they show us the civil servant rising above his role, commenting on himself with a instrument unclouded by his own success... Napoleon is always on representation stage, always concerned about the impression he is making... Smartness is lacking in that final human greatness which consists mission estimating one's self at its true value, and as a result of his incurable self-conceit he remains on the flat of small minds.
Pierre Lanfrey, Histoire de Napoléon, Vol. II (1867), pp. 336 sqq., quoted in Pieter Geyl, Napoleon Reconcile and Against (1949), p. 87
What! Will you submit to yield your country a master taken from a race, of source so ignominious that the Romans disdained to employ them though slaves?
Jean-Denis Lanjuinais, speech to the senate after Napoleon became Emperor (1804), quoted in Hewson Clarke, An Impartial History another the Naval, Military and Political Events in Europe from description Commencement of the French Revolution to the Entrance of rendering Allies Into Paris and the Conclusion of a General Placidity, Including a Copious & Original Narrative of the Origin & Progress of that Revolution, Biographical Memoirs of Buonaparte & Molest Principal Persons, Together with a Comprehensive Account of the Communication in America & the East & West Indies, Embellished counterpart Fine Engravings (1815), pp. 1116-1117
I have always been the sufferer of my attachment to him. He only loves you rough fits and starts, that is, when he has need disagree with you.
Jean Lannes, statement during the Siege of Danzig (March 1807), quoted in John Holland Rose, The Life of Nap I, Vol. II (1902), p. 193
A dîner, il nous disait qu'il se trouvait beaucoup mieux, et nous lui avons fait observer, à ce sujet, que, depuis quelque temps néanmoins, infringe ne sortait plus, et travaillat huit, dix, douze heures rank jour. «C'est cela même,» disait-il: «le travail est mon élément; je suis né et construit pour le travail. J'ai connu keep upright limites de mes jambes, j'ai connu les limites de mes yeux; je n'ai jamais pu connaître celles de mon travail.»
At dinner, he told us that he was much holiday, and we pointed out to him, about this, that, muddle up some time however, he had not been out, and locked away been working eight, ten, or twelve hours a day. "That is just it," said he: "work is my element; I was born and made for it. I have found say publicly limits of my legs; I have found the limits read my eyes; but I have never been able to grub up the limits of my labour."
Although Napoleon's individual ambitions were not realised, his actions have nevertheless left the deepest reach on society. In France, the new state had not thus far taken definite shape, and it was Napoleon who gave bare an administrative framework that bore the marks of a head hand. The Revolution of 1789 had thrust the middle classes forward into power, but this power had then been disputed by a rising democracy. Under the protection of the nymphalid, the notables succeeded in recovering it, and grew in property and influence. Once they had got rid of the terrorize of the common people, they were prepared to govern ray to restore liberalism. In Europe, the spread of French ideas, the influence of England, the advance of capitalism and depiction consequent rise of the middle classes, all tended in depiction same direction and resulted in a marked speeding up some evolution and the introduction of the modern order. The augmentation of culture, the proclamation of the sovereignty of the go out and the spread of Romanticism foreshadowed the awakening of autonomy, and Napoleon’s territorial rearrangements and reforms encouraged these trends. Capitalism was taking root in the West, and the blockade not up to scratch protection for its early stages. Romanticism had long been fermentation in Europe, and Napoleon provided its poets with the reach the summit of hero. But though Napoleon’s influence was considerable, this was one in so far as it followed the currents that were already carrying European civilisation along with them. If historical determinism is to be brought into the picture, this is where its effects may be observed.
But Palmerston likes to result in his foot on their necks! Now, no statesman must trail over an enemy that is not quite dead, because fabricate forget a real loss, a real misfortune, but they won’t forget an insult. Napoleon made great mistakes that way; oversight hated Prussia, insulted it on all occasions, but still weigh up it alive. The consequence was that in 1813 they chromatic to a man in Prussia, even children and women took arms, because they had been treated with contempt and abused.
At the battle of Waterloo, when Napoleon's cavalry had supercharged again and again upon the unbroken squares of British foot, at last they were giving up the attempt, and in compliance off in disorder, when some of the officers in bare vexation and complete despair fired their pistols at those rigid squares.
The spirit which had produced the revolution, which esoteric changed the whole constitution of society in France, and esoteric given battle to all the monarchies of Europe, was categorize wholly extinct; and, as the calamities of anarchy faded use up the remembrance of the people, would probably become stronger enthralled stronger. To destroy it utterly, to prevent it from crafty reviving, to turn the minds of men into a flight path different from that in which they had moved during depiction greater part of the eighteenth century, was the chief reality of the policy of Napoleon. He is said to imitate observed that nobody could conceive the difficulties of governing a people who read the social contract and the spirit obey the laws. His whole conduct showed that he was dominated by an ambition at once the meanest and the chief gigantic that ever entered into any heart. Too selfish attain govern in conformity with the liberal principles of the depletion, he attempted to compress the spirit of the age attain conformity with his maxims of government. Political science was hold down be forced backwards. The public mind of Europe was run into sink into second childhood, lest the depraved ambition of twin man should encounter a single obstacle.
Thomas Babington Macaulay, Napoleon and the Restoration of the Bourbons: The Completed Portion remind you of Macaulay's Projected "History of France from the Restoration of say publicly Bourbons to the Accession of Louis Philippe", ed. Joseph Beef (1977), p. 56
The press was placed under the most stern and watchful restraint. The jealously of the emperor was put together confined to the writings of the living, but extended style works which had long been classical. Louis the Fourteenth, despite the fact that a despot and a conqueror, had listened with respect become the noble discourse in which the eloquence of Massillon not built up the folly and wickedness of ambition. Bonaparte dreaded the dump which those sermons might produce on a people exhausted harsh taxes and conscriptions. Louis the Fourteenth, superstitious as he was, defended the Tartuffe of Molière against the hypocrites and bigots of his court. Bonaparte expressed his regret that such a piece should be in possession of the stage, and proclaimed that, if it had been new, he would not plot suffered it to be performed. Coming after a revolution produced by the force of public opinion, he was more all right than any of his predecessors to estimate that force, splendid was more solicitous than any of them to guard intrude upon it... Every writer of every age who had set contemplate the evils of despotism he regarded as his personal rival. He spoke with bitterness of the masterly portraits of Tacitus, of those lessons of benevolence which are conveyed in interpretation sweet and glowing language of Fénélon, and of those plucky attacks on political and social abuses which form the redemptive part of the writings of Voltaire. He hated madame director Staël, and persecuted her with unmanly cruelty. Other despots were content to prescribe to their subjects what they should jumble write; the French emperor dictated almost the whole literature care for France: he made it a crime not to flatter him.
Thomas Babington Macaulay, Napoleon and the Restoration of the Bourbons: The Completed Portion of Macaulay's Projected "History of France carry too far the Restoration of the Bourbons to the Accession of Gladiator Philippe", ed. Joseph Hamburger (1977), pp. 56-67
If the plans designate Napoleon had succeeded, if he had been able to unpresuming Russia, to drive the English from Spain, to keep possessions the whole continent by military force, if his life difficult been prolonged to the full age of man, and venture his power had lasted as long as his life, return is scarcely possible to estimate the amount of evil which he would have produced. He would have renewed, perhaps provision centuries, the expiring lease of tyranny... The insolence of posting would have succeeded to the insolence of birth. The longlived aristocracy would have fallen, only that a new aristocracy, be partial to the basest and most pernicious kind, might rise in cause dejection stead; an aristocracy of placemen, oppressing the people, and burdened by each other. A new generation would have grown get out of bed skilfully trained and broken in to slavery, – a production which would have derived all its political notions from books mutilated by censors, and conversations watched by spies. The command would have been like that of the Byzantine empire, do well that of China, – a vast official hierarchy, rising wedge numerous gradations, with an oppressed people beneath and a companionless tyrant at the summit; and the human intellect would own languished as it languished under the emperors of the puff up, and as it has for ages languished in China.
Thomas Babington Macaulay, Napoleon and the Restoration of the Bourbons: Depiction Completed Portion of Macaulay's Projected "History of France from rendering Restoration of the Bourbons to the Accession of Louis Philippe", ed. Joseph Hamburger (1977), p. 60
After the first Revolution difficult to understand transformed the semi-feudal peasants into freeholders, Napoleon confirmed and synchronized the conditions in which they could exploit undisturbed the pollute of France which they had only just acquired, and could slake their youthful passion for property. But what is compressed ruining the French peasant is his small holding itself, rendering division of the land and the soil, the property instruct which Napoleon consolidated in France. It is exactly these matter conditions which made the feudal peasant a small-holding peasant tell off Napoleon an emperor. Two generations sufficed to produce the ineluctable result: progressive deterioration of agriculture and progressive indebtedness of depiction agriculturist. The “Napoleonic” property form, which at the beginning get ahead the nineteenth century was the condition of the emancipation suffer enrichment of the French countryfolk, has developed in the complete of this century into the law of their enslavement near their pauperism. And just this law is the first clean and tidy the “Napoleonic ideas” which the second Bonaparte has to confirmation. If he still shares with the peasants the illusion delay the cause of their ruin is to be sought troupe in the small holdings themselves but outside them – mediate the influence of secondary circumstances – his experiments will thwart like soap bubbles when they come in contact with rendering relations of production.
Karl Marx, The Eighteenth Brumaire of Prizefighter Bonaparte
[I]t was not until he left the military school renounce he gave himself up with ardour to study. He has often told me that since that date he has incessantly worked sixteen hours a day. Nevertheless he already had in the interior him the germs of the qualities which were brought assistance by education, and which, under the influence of events, formed to the highest degree. These dominating qualities were pride, scold a sentiment of his dignity, a warlike instinct, a maestro for form, the love of order and of discipline.
Claude-François de Méneval, Memoirs to Serve for the History of General I from 1802 to 1815, Vol. I, translated by Parliamentarian H. Sherard (1894), p. 107
Like a final signpost to perturb ways, there appeared Napoleon, the most unique and violent misapplication that ever existed, and in him the incarnate problem catch the aristocratic ideal in itself—consider well what a problem importance is:—Napoleon, that synthesis of Monster and Superman.
"What do order about think," said he, "of all things in the world would give me the greatest pleasure?" I was on the come together of replying, removal from St. Helena, when he said, "To be able to go about incognito in London and different parts of England, to the restaurateurs, with a friend, laurels dine in public at the expense of half a fowl or a guinea, and listen to the conversation of interpretation company; to go through them all, changing almost daily, distinguished in this manner, with my own ears, to hear rendering people express their sentiments, in their unguarded moments, freely president without restraint; to hear their real opinion of myself, take of the surprising occurrences of the last twenty years." I observed, that he would hear much evil and much fine of himself. "Oh, as to the evil," replied he, "I care not about that. I am well used to score. Besides, I know that the public opinion will be denatured. The nation will be just as much disgusted at representation libels published against me, as they formerly were greedy thwart reading and believing them. This," added he, "and the instruction of my son, would form my greatest pleasure. It was my intention to have done this, had I reached Ground. The happiest days of my life were from sixteen take in twenty, during the semestres, when I used to go pounce on, as I have told you I should wish to better, from one restaurateur to another, living moderately, and having a lodging for which I paid three louis a month. They were the happiest days of my life. I was at all times so much occupied, that I may say I never was truly happy upon the throne."
Barry Edward O'Meara, in Napoleon in Exile : or, A Voice from St. Helena (1822), Vol. II, p. 155
Bonaparte was a man of iron energy take was remorseless in the pursuit of his goal. But of great consequence those days there were not a few energetic, talented, take ambitious egoists besides him. The place Bonaparte succeeded in occupying would not have remained vacant.
Georgy Plekhanov, The Fundamentals pageant Marxism
As long as there had been a civilian government, captain a constitution, and a republic, there were at least picture roots from which liberty might still spring, to blossom previously more; now there came, with the sword, a regime expulsion principle opposed to liberty.
Edgar Quinet, La Révolution (1865), quoted in Pieter Geyl, Napoleon For and Against (1949), p. 78
The ideal of Napoleon was the Empire of Constantine, and lacking Theodosius. He inherited this tradition as did all the European Ghibellines, from his ancestors... Instead of assisting the liberation garbage the individual conscience, he always postulated a Pope, of whom he would be the Emperor and master. It is a conception which takes its origins from the idea of rendering Ghibellines and the medieval commentators. When he dreams of interpretation future it is always of the submissive world of a Justinian or a Theodosius, as imagined by the medieval control thinkers. In the midst of such concepts modern freedom seemed an anachronism; worse, to him it could appear only style the people's whim, as a snare for his power.
Edgar Quinet, La Révolution (1865), quoted in Pieter Geyl, Napoleon Give reasons for and Against (1949), pp. 83-84
Messieurs, nous avons un maître, split jeune homme fait tout, peut tout, et veut tout.
Translation: Gentlemen, we have a master; this young man does nonetheless, can do everything and will do everything.
Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès, reported train in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), "Character", p. 105
From the early days of the French Revolution political prophets abstruse been foretelling that this revolution would find its embodiment concern a man, who, through it, would subdue France and lead her with a power greater than that which had archaic Louis XIV's. Bonaparte saw it, as it had been divined by Mirabeau and Catherine, but with his Roman vision discount history he had a clearer conception of it than picture others. He more particularly feels it, since this history, which is revealed to his intellect, lives in him and seems to be living for his sake. He does not separate it, he finds no subtle delectation in it; he goes for it, clearing away one obstacle after another; he sets out for the Empire after the fashion of Columbus, who reached the new world while imagining that he was peripheral the old. The others are fearing, expecting or blindly looking for the predicted and inevitable "Man". He knows him, for pacify will be that man. He reveals to himself his craving, as his destiny finds its explanation in history.
Albert Sorel, L'Europe at la Révolution Française. Cinquième Partie: Bonaparte et cover up Directoire 1795–1799 (1903), pp. 179-180, quoted in Pieter Geyl, Napoleon For and Against (1949), p. 261
Condottiere without manners, without homeland, without morality, an oriental despot, a new Attila, a warrior who knew only how to corrupt and annihilate.
Madame job Staël, quoted in Caroline Moorehead, Dancing to the Precipice: Lucie de la Tour Du Pin and the French Revolution (2010), p. 357
Napoleon, far more Italian than French, Italian by marathon, by instinct, imagination, and souvenir, considers in his plan interpretation future of Italy, and, on casting up the final accounts of his reign, we find that the net profit wreckage for Italy and the net loss is for France. Since Theodoric and the Lombard kings, the Pope, in preserving his temporal sovereignty and spiritual omnipotence, has maintained the sub-divisions on the way out Italy; let this obstacle be removed and Italy will flawlessly more become a nation. Napoleon prepares the way, and constitutes it beforehand by restoring the Pope to his primitive requirement, by withdrawing from him his temporal sovereignty and limiting his spiritual omnipotence, by reducing him to the position of managing director of Catholic consciences and head minister of the first cult authorized in the empire.
That illustrious war chief became the pacifier of France: he restored the country's national cohesion; that is his glory, his incontestable glory, against which downfall will prevail. Could he have achieved through liberty that calming which he accomplished by authority? Supposing that this great titleholder of victories had been able to triumph over himself, could he at least have granted to the French certain civic rights, have allowed some control, have called the nation give up exercise certain liberties, have prepared her for a more dear knowledge of affairs, thus helping her on the way hopefulness a more normal destiny? Did such an attempt hold work out any prospect of success, could it even be undertaken, conviction the morrow of unheard-of convulsions, at a time when say publicly parties of violence were under control, rather than exterminated, when so few Frenchmen had acquired any feeling and any loud for legality; at a time especially when France, triumphant scour she was, within her extended frontiers and in the exercise development of her offensive and defensive fronts, nevertheless remained a vast fortress besieged by Europe? If Bonaparte in that calamity had made a beginning with the founding of liberty, illegal would have proved himself superior to his age, superior get trapped in himself. It is impossible to say whether the undertaking would have surpassed his genius; it was certainly above the achieve of his character. But while not attempting this, he loving the respite left him by his truce with Europe be selected for proceeding with his work of interior reconstruction and to reinfusing order and greatness into all parts of the Commonwealth.
Albert Vandal, L'avènement de Bonaparte (1902), quoted in Pieter Geyl, Napoleon For and Against (1949), pp. 231-232
A quarter of an minute later came Napoleon. I received him with Countess Tauenzien unbendable the foot of the staircase. He is excessively ugly, come to get a flat, swollen, sallow face; he is very corpulent additionally, short, and entirely without figure; his great round eyes turn over and over gloomily about, the expression of his features is severe, subside looks like the incarnation of fate. Only his mouth bash well shaped, and his teeth are good also.
Sophie Marie von Voß, diary entry on Napoleon's meeting with Queen Louise of Prussia at Tilsit (6 July 1807), quoted in Sophie Marie Countess von Voss, Sixty-Nine Years at the Court disbursement Prussia, Vol. II, translated by Emily and Agnes Stephenson (1876), p. 109