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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.

“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 Quotes by Napoleon Bonaparte

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

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Time

“A picture is worth a thousand words.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Art

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

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Best

“History is a set of lies agreed upon.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte

History

“A leader is a dealer in hope.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Hope

“In politics stupidity is not a handicap.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Politics

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

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Great

“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

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

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Best

“Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte

History

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

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Art

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

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Courage

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

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Courage

“He who knows how to flatter also knows how to slander.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Politics

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

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Great

“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.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Fear

“Men take only their needs into consideration - never their abilities.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Men

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

— Napoleon Bonaparte

History

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

— Napoleon Bonaparte

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.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Government