100+ Timeless Napoleon Quotes to Inspire and Lead

Summary: Delving into Napoleon Quotes

Despite standing at just 5'6'', Napoleon Bonaparte loomed large in world history as one of the most ambitious and tactical military leaders. His life and legacy, captured through iconic quotes, offer timeless wisdom and reflection on leadership, resilience, and ambition. This article dissects 10 thematic Napoleon quotes to glean insights into his strategic mind and complex personality. From leadership to aspirations, each quote encapsulates a piece of Napoleon's multifaceted philosophy, inspiring readers to channel their inner conquerors in different aspects of life. Let’s embark on a journey through time, exploring Napoleon's enduring words and their implications in today's fast-paced world.

Quotes on Leadership

"A leader is a dealer in hope."

"The battlefield is a scene of constant chaos. The winner will be the one who controls that chaos."

"The strong man is the one who is able to intercept at will the communication between the senses and the mind."

"He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat."

"Ten people who speak make more noise than ten thousand who are silent."

"Great ambition is the passion of a great character."

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

"Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools."

"Ability is nothing without opportunity."

"It is the cause, not the death, that makes the martyr."

"Courage isn’t having the strength to go on—it is going on when you don’t have strength."

"The strong man is not the good wrestler; the strong man is only the one who controls himself when he is angry."

Quotes on Success

"Victory belongs to the most persevering."

"There are only two forces that unite men – fear and interest."

"To do all that one is able to do, is to be a man; to do all that one would like to do, is to be a god."

"Success is the most convincing talker in the world."

"The truest wisdom is a resolute determination."

"In war, the moral is to the physical as three is to one."

"Death is nothing, but to live defeated and inglorious is to die daily."

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

"In war, the spirit is everything."

"Riches do not consist in the possession of treasures, but in the use made of them."

"The strong man is the one who is able to intercept at will the communication between the senses and the mind."

"The word impossible is not in my dictionary."

Quotes on Ambition

"Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide."

"Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever."

"The surest way to remain poor is to be an honest man."

"Courage isn’t having the strength to go on—it is going on when you don’t have strength."

"Men are moved by two levers only: fear and self-interest."

"You become strong by defying defeat and by turning loss into gain and failure to success."

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

"To have good soldiers, a nation must always be at war."

"If you want a thing done well, do it yourself."

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

"Men of genius are meteors destined to burn to light their century."

"The only victories which leave no regret are those which are gained over ignorance."

Quotes on Strategy

"War is the business of barbarians."

"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."

"A general must have the courage to say no."

"I have made all the calculations; fate will do the rest."

"If I always appear prepared, it is because before entering on an undertaking, I have meditated for long and foreseen what may occur."

"The object of war is victory; that of victory is conquest; and that of conquest is preservation."

"If you want a thing done well, do it yourself."

"Ability is of little account without opportunity."

"The first virtue in a soldier is endurance of fatigue; courage is only the second virtue."

"Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action comes, stop thinking and go in."

"He who knows how to flatter also knows how to slander."

"Soldiers usually win the battles and generals get the credit for them."

Quotes on Power

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

"Power is like being a lady... if you have to tell people you are, you aren’t."

"A throne is only a bench covered with velvet."

"Circumstances- what are circumstances? I make circumstances."

"The strong man is the one who is able to intercept at will the communication between the senses and the mind."

"Victory belongs to the most persevering."

"In war, the moral is to the physical as three is to one."

"The strong man is not the good wrestler; the strong man is only the one who controls himself when he is angry."

"Great ambition is the passion of a great character."

"Men are moved by two levers only: fear and self-interest."

"I start out by believing the worst."

"The only victories which leave no regret are those which are gained over ignorance."

Quotes on Resilience

"Courage isn’t having the strength to go on—it is going on when you don’t have strength."

"To each age its own battle."

"The strong man is not the good wrestler; the strong man is only the one who controls himself when he is angry."

"The battlefield is a scene of constant chaos. The winner will be the one who controls that chaos."

"Victory is not always winning the battle...but rising every time you fall."

"The strong man is the one who is able to intercept at will the communication between the senses and the mind."

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

"Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide."

"Death is nothing, but to live defeated and inglorious is to die daily."

"A true man hates no one."

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

"To have good soldiers, a nation must always be at war."

Quotes on Risk

"Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action comes, stop thinking and go in."

"The strong man is the one who is able to intercept at will the communication between the senses and the mind."

"Courage isn’t having the strength to go on—it is going on when you don’t have strength."

"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."

"War is the business of barbarians."

"Ten people who speak make more noise than ten thousand who are silent."

"In war, the spirit is everything."

"Victory is not always winning the battle...but rising every time you fall."

"The battlefield is a scene of constant chaos. The winner will be the one who controls that chaos."

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

"He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat."

"To have good soldiers, a nation must always be at war."

Quotes on Determination

"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."

"Victory belongs to the most persevering."

"The truest wisdom is a resolute determination."

"If you want a thing done well, do it yourself."

"He who knows how to flatter also knows how to slander."

"A general must have the courage to say no."

"I base my calculation on the expectation that luck will be against me."

"To do all that one is able to do, is to be a man; to do all that one would like to do, is to be a god."

"To each age its own battle."

"Victory is not always winning the battle...but rising every time you fall."

"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will."

"Never retreat, never explain, get it done and let them howl."

Quotes on War

"In war, the moral is to the physical as three is to one."

"War is the business of barbarians."

"The object of war is victory; that of victory is conquest; and that of conquest is preservation."

"In war, the spirit is everything."

"Soldiers usually win the battles and generals get the credit for them."

"Victory is not always winning the battle...but rising every time you fall."

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

"To have good soldiers, a nation must always be at war."

"The strongest of all warriors are these two — Time and Patience."

"The battlefield is a scene of constant chaos. The winner will be the one who controls that chaos."

"He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat."

"War is the business of barbarians."

Quotes on Fame

"Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever."

"Men of genius are meteors destined to burn to light their century."

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

"Great ambition is the passion of a great character."

"Riches do not consist in the possession of treasures, but in the use made of them."

"If I always appear prepared, it is because before entering on an undertaking, I have meditated for long and foreseen what may occur."

"Men are moved by two levers only: fear and self-interest."

"Ability without opportunity is nothing."

"Power is like being a lady... if you have to tell people you are, you aren’t."

"The only victories which leave no regret are those which are gained over ignorance."

"The truest wisdom is a resolute determination."

"The word impossible is not in my dictionary."

Final words

Napoleon Bonaparte's quotes reveal a mind obsessed with power, strategy, and the complexities of leadership. Each of his famous sayings is laced with wisdom drawn from victories and defeats alike, offering us glimpses into how he carved an empire from chaos. These quotations not only highlight his military genius and visionary mind but also portray a man acutely aware of human nature's intricacies. They resonate with timeless lessons applicable beyond military conquests, into personal and professional realms. Today, individuals and leaders around the world can extract enduring inspiration from Napoleon's words, guiding determination and strategic insight in the face of adversity. Reflect on these 120 quotes, allowing them to serve as steadfast companions in your own journey toward success and fulfillment.