Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 – 1821)
French military general who rose to prominence in the French Revolution, becoming the ruler of France as First Consul of the French Republic (11 November 1799 - 18 May 1804), and then Emperor of the French and King of Italy under the name Napoleon I (18 May 1804 - 6 April 1814, and again briefly from 20 March - 22 June 1815).
The laws of circumstance are abolished by new circumstances.
The sentiment of national honor is never more than half extinguished in the French. It takes only a spark to re-kindle it.
The moment of greatest peril is the moment of victory.
The man fitted for affairs and authority never considers individuals, but things and their consequences.
Messieurs, nous avons un maître, ce jeune homme fait tout, peut tout, et veut tout.
The greater the man, the less is he opinionative, he depends upon events and circumstances.
To listen to the interests of all, marks an ordinary government; to foresee them, marks a great government.
Necessity dominates inclination, will, and right.
Kiss the feet of Popes provided their hands are tied.
If I had succeeded, I would have been the greatest man known to history.
What I have done up to this is nothing. I am only at the beginning of the course I must run. Do you imagine that I triumph in Italy in order to aggrandise the pack of lawyers who form the Directory, and men like Carnot and Barras? What an idea!
From triumph to downfall is but a step. I have seen a trifle decide the most important issues in the gravest affairs.
Women are nothing but machines for producing children.
Those who are free from common prejudices acquire others.
The division of labor, which has brought such perfection in mechanical industries, is altogether fatal when applied to productions of the mind. All work of the mind is superior in proportion as the mind that produces it is universal.
The religious zeal which animates priests, leads them to undertake labors and to brave perils which would be far beyond the powers of one in secular employment.
At the beginning of a campaign it is important to consider whether or not to move forward; but when one has taken the offensive it is necessary to maintain it to the last extremity. However skilfully effected a retreat may be, it always lessens the morale of an army, since in losing the chances of success, they are remitted to the enemy. A retreat, moreover, costs much more in men and materials than 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.
In love the only safety is in flight.
In early life he may have been a sincere republican; but he hated anarchy and disorder, and, before his campaign in Italy was over, he had begun to plan to make himself ruler of France. He worked systematically to transform the people's earlier ardor for liberty into a passion for military glory and plunder.
The bullet that will kill me is not yet cast.