Quotes from Napoleon Bonaparte

Circumstances-what are circumstances? I make circumstances

When a government is dependent upon bankers for money, they and not the leaders of the government control the situation, since the hand that gives is above the hand that takes. Money has no motherland; financiers are without patriotism and without decency; their sole object is gain.

Ability is of little account without opportunity.

As for me, to love you alone, to make you happy, to do nothing which would contradict your wishes, this is my destiny and the meaning of my life.

Throw off your worries when you throw off your clothes at night.

Victory belongs to the most persevering.

Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets..

Never tell your enemy he is doing the wrong thing.

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

The surest way to remain poor is to be honest.

The hand that gives is among the hand that takes. Money has no fatherland, financiers are without patriotism and without decency, their sole object is gain.

Great men are meteors designed to burn so that earth may be lighted.

A true man hates no one.

To understand the man you have to know what was happening in the world when he was twenty.

Courage is like love, it must have hope for nourishment.

If we could read the past histories of all our enemies we would disregard all hostility for them.

It's the unconquerable soul of man, and not the nature of the weapon he uses, that ensures victory

A throne is only a bench covered with velvet.

In our time no one has the conception of what is great. It is up to me to show them.

The only victory over love is flight.

Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or bad acts. All depends on the principles which direct them.

I have seen only yoU, I have admired only yoU, I desire only You

I am surrounded by priests who repeat incessantly that their kingdom is not of this world, and yet they lay hands on everything they can get.

We must laugh at man to avoid crying for him.