I mistrust the judgment of every man in a case in which his own wished are concerned

The only thing I am afraid of is fear.

The French system of conscription brings together a fair sample of all classes; ours is composed of the scum of the earth - the mere scum of the earth. It is only wonderful that we should be able to make so much out of them afterwards.

There is nothing on earth so stupid as a gallant officer.

It is very true that I have said that I considered Napoleon's presence in the field equal to forty thousand men in the balance. This is a very loose way of talking; but the idea is a very different one from that of his presence at a battle being equal to a reinforcement of forty thousand men.

There is nothing so dreadful as a great victory--except a great defeat.

Habit is ten times nature.