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Napoleon Bonaparte

52 quotes

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821) was a French military commander and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and went on to conquer much of Europe as Emperor of the French. His military genius, sweeping legal reforms through the Napoleonic Code, and outsized personality have made him one of the most studied figures in world history.

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

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Time

All Quotes by Napoleon Bonaparte

“Men are more easily governed through their vices than through their virtues.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Men

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

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Peace

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

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Power

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

— Napoleon Bonaparte

War

“It requires more courage to suffer than to die.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Courage

“Men are moved by two levers only: fear and self interest.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Fear

“What is history but a fable agreed upon?”

— Napoleon Bonaparte

History

“War is the business of barbarians.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Business

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

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Success

“A leader is a dealer in hope.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Hope

“Imagination rules the world.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Imagination

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

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Power

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

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Men

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

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Death

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

— Napoleon Bonaparte

God

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

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Great

“All religions have been made by men.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Men

“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.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Government

“I love power. But it is as an artist that I love it. I love it as a musician loves his violin, to draw out its sounds and chords and harmonies.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Love

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

— Napoleon Bonaparte

History