If I always appear prepared, it is because before entering an undertaking, I have meditated long and have foreseen what might occur. It is not genius which reveals to me suddenly and secretly what I should do in circumstances unexpected by others; it is thought and preparation
Napoleon BonaparteSociety cannot exist without inequality of fortunes and the inequality of fortunes could not subsist without religion. Whenever a half-starved person is near another who is glutted, it is impossible to reconcile the difference if there is not an authority who tells him to.
Napoleon BonaparteOur credulity is a part of the imperfection of our natures. It is inherent in us to desire to generalize, when we ought, on the contrary, to guard ourselves very carefully from this tendency.
Napoleon BonaparteAll becomes easy when we follow the current of opinion; it is the ruler of the world.
Napoleon BonaparteCalled to the throne by the voice of the people, my maxim has always been: A career open to talent without distinction of birth. It is this system of equality for which the European oligarchy detests me
Napoleon BonaparteWe are made weak both by idleness and distrust of ourselves. Unfortunate, indeed, is he who suffers from both. If he is a mere individual he becomes nothing; if he is a king he is lost.
Napoleon BonaparteNothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide.
Napoleon BonaparteHe who cannot look over a battlefield with a dry eye, causes the death of many men uselessly.
Napoleon BonaparteLead the ideas of your time and they will accompany and support you; fall behind them and they drag you along with them; oppose them and they will overwhelm you.
Napoleon BonaparteTimid and cowardly soldiers cause the loss of a nation's independence; but pusillanimous magistrates destroy the empire of the laws, the rights of the throne, and even social order itself.
Napoleon BonaparteThe extent of your consciousness is limited only by your ability to love and to embrace with your love the space around you, and all it contains.
Napoleon BonaparteThe true wealth of a state consists in the number of its inhabitants, in their toil and industry.
Napoleon BonaparteThe gospel is not a book; it is a living being, with an action, a power, which invades every thing that opposes its extension, behold! It is upon this table: This book, surpassing all others. I never omit to read it, and every day with some pleasure.
Napoleon BonaparteI have noticed in every campaign that I have fought-that there is a key segment of time, somewhere between 13 and 15 minutes in which the battle is won or lost. I focus on that segment of time, and I win.
Napoleon BonaparteLove is the occupation of the idle man, the amusement of a busy one, and the shipwreck of a sovereign.
Napoleon BonaparteYou become strong by defying defeat and by turning loss into gain and failure to success.
Napoleon BonaparteThe herd seek out the great, not for their sake but for their influence; and the great welcome them out of vanity or need.
Napoleon BonaparteThe 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 BonaparteThe most difficult art is not in the choice of men, but in giving to the men chosen the highest service of which they are capable.
Napoleon BonaparteChess is too difficult to be a game and not serious enough to be a science or an art.
Napoleon BonaparteThose who have changed the universe have never done it by changing officials, but always by inspiring the people.
Napoleon BonaparteI am surrounded by priests who repeat incessantly that their kingdom is not of this world, and yet they lay their hands on everything they can get.
Napoleon BonaparteThere is no such thing as an accident, only a failure to recognise the hand of fate
Napoleon BonaparteThe only victories which leave no regret are those which are gained over ignorance.
Napoleon Bonaparte