Napoleon Bonaparte Quotes (197 Quotes)

Forethought we may have, undoubtedly, but not foresight.

It is but a step from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Washington is dead This great man fought against Tyranny he established the liberty of his country. His memory will always be dear to the French people, as it will be to all free men of the two worlds and especially to French soldiers, who, like him and the American soldiers, have combated for liberty and equality.

England is a nation of shopkeepers.

There is one kind of robber whom the law does not strike at, and who steals what is most precious to men: time.

If you wish to be a success in the world, promise everything, deliver nothing.

Death is nothing, but to live defeated and inglorious is to die daily.

Throw off your worries when you throw off your clothes at night.

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

A revolution can be neither made nor stopped. The only thing that can be done is for one of several of its children to give it a direction by dint of victories.

The great proof of madness is the disproportion of one's designs to one's means.

I have only one counsel for you - be master.

The art of the police is not to see what it is useless that it should see.

An order that can be misunderstood will be misunderstood.

Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded empires but what foundation did we rest the creations of our genius Upon force. Jesus Christ founded an empire upon love and at this hour millions of men would die for Him.

Women are nothing but machines for producing children.

The best cure for the body is a quiet mind.

Soldiers generally win battles; generals get credit for them.

Never awake me when you have good news to announce, because with good news nothing presses but when you have bad news, arouse me immediately, for then there is not an instant to be lost.

I am the successor, not of Louis XVI, but of Charlemagne.

Public opinion is the thermometer a monarch should constantly consult.

The only true conqueststhose that awaken no regrets are those obtained over our ignorance.

The infectiousness of crime is like that of the plague.

The battlefield is a scene of constant chaos. The winner will be the one who controls that chaos, both his own and the enemies.

Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I founded great empires. But upon what did the creation of our genius depend Upon force. Jesus alone founded his empire upon love, and to this very day millions would die for him.

There is only one step from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Doctors will have more lives to answer for in the next world than even we generals.

The French complain of everything, and always.

A celebrated people lose dignity upon a closer view.

Occupation is the scythe of time.

In my youth I, too, entertained some illusions but I soon recovered from them.

Courage is like love; it must have hope for nourishment.

Among those who dislike oppression are many who like to oppress.

Truth alone wounds.

Ten people who speak make more noise than ten thousand who are silent.

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

Fashion condemns us to many follies the greatest is to make ourselves its slave

High politic is only common sense applied to great things.

One must change one's tactics every ten years if one wishes to maintain one's superiority.

Ambition is never content, even on the summit of greatness.

Riches do not consist in the possession of treasures, but in the use made of them.

In politics stupidity is not a handicap.

Imagination rules the world.

All celebrated people lose dignity on a close view

Incidents should not govern policy but, policy incidents.

The Bible is no mere book, but a Living Creature, with a power that conquers all that oppose it.

Secrets travel fast in Paris.

The future destiny of the child is always the work of the mother.

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

A man cannot become an atheist merely by wishing it.