Quotes and anectdotes from the wise to the foolish, and the courageous to the drunk

Napoleon Bonaparte Military Officer

  • Gender: Male
  • Citizenship: France
  • Born: Aug 15, 1769
  • Died: May 5, 1821

Music is the voice that tells us that the human race is greater than it knows. music

History is a set of lies agreed upon. history

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

There are only two forces that unite men - fear and interest. fear & men

Men take only their needs into consideration - never their abilities. men

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

Power is my mistress. I have worked too hard at her conquest to allow anyone to take her away from me. power

I am sometimes a fox and sometimes a lion. The whole secret of government lies in knowing when to be the one or the other. government

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

History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon. history

Respect the burden. respect

The truest wisdom is a resolute determination. wisdom

What is history but a fable agreed upon? history

One should never forbid what one lacks the power to prevent. power

In politics... never retreat, never retract... never admit a mistake. politics

When small men attempt great enterprises, they always end by reducing them to the level of their mediocrity. great & men

The herd seek out the great, not for their sake but for their influence and the great welcome them out of vanity or need. great

War is the business of barbarians. business & war

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

Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet. religion

All religions have been made by men. men

It requires more courage to suffer than to die. courage

Skepticism is a virtue in history as well as in philosophy. history

In politics stupidity is not a handicap. politics

The people to fear are not those who disagree with you, but those who disagree with you and are too cowardly to let you know. fear

Courage is like love it must have hope for nourishment. courage, hope & love

Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever. history

The first virtue in a soldier is endurance of fatigue courage is only the second virtue. courage

Men are more easily governed through their vices than through their virtues. men

A picture is worth a thousand words. art

The best cure for the body is a quiet mind. best

If they want peace, nations should avoid the pin-pricks that precede cannon shots. peace

The best way to keep one's word is not to give it. best

The human race is governed by its imagination. imagination

A leader is a dealer in hope. hope & leadership

Women are nothing but machines for producing children. women

If I had to choose a religion, the sun as the universal giver of life would be my god. God, life & religion

Men are moved by two levers only: fear and self interest. fear & men

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

The strong man is the one who is able to intercept at will the communication between the senses and the mind. communication & strength

Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action has arrived, stop thinking and go in. time

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

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

You must not fear death, my lads defy him, and you drive him into the enemy's ranks. death & fear

It is the cause, not the death, that makes the martyr. death

Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich. religion

Imagination rules the world. imagination

To do all that one is able to do, is to be a man to do all that one would like to do, is to be a god. God

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

He who knows how to flatter also knows how to slander. politics