Every French soldier carriers a marshal's baton in his knapsack.

Many a one commits a reprehensible action, who is at bottom an honourable man, because man seldom acts upon natural impulse, but from some secret passion of the moment which lies hidden and concealed within the narrowest folds of his heart.

I am the successor, not of Louis XVI, but of Charlemagne.

Music, of all the liberal arts, has the greatest influence over the passions, and it is that to which the legislator ought to give the greatest encouragement.

The fool has one great advantage over a man of sense; he is always satisfied with himself.

History is a set of lies agreed upon.

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.