Quotes About Power

Waterloo will wipe out the memory of my forty victories; but that which nothing can wipe out is my Civil Code. That will live forever.

To plan to reserve cavalry for the finish of the battle, is to have no conception of the power of combined infantry and cavalry charges, either for attack or for defense.

War is a lottery in which nations ought to risk nothing but small amounts.

The art of war consists in being always able, even with an inferior army, to have stronger forces than the enemy at the point of attack or the point which is attacked.

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.

If I had to have a religion, I should adore the sun, for it is the sun that fertilizes everything.

What is the throne?—a bit of wood gilded and covered with velvet. I am the state—I alone am here the representative of the people. Even if I had done wrong you should not have reproached me in public—people wash their dirty linen at home. France has more need of me than I of France.

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.

One should never forbid what one lacks the power to prevent.

Chief of the Army.

Do you know what amazes me more than anything else? The impotence of force to organize anything.

My enemies are many, my equals are none. In the shade of olive trees, they said Italy could never be conquered. In the land of Pharaohs and Kings, they said Egypt could never be humbled. In the realm of forest and snow, they said Russia could never be tamed. Now they say nothing. They fear me, like a force of nature, a dealer in thunder and death! I say: I am Napoleon, I am Emperor. (Napoleon: Total War)

Religion is excellent stuff for keeping the common people quiet.

There are two levers for moving men interest and fear.

Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet. Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich.

Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for him.

A woman laughing is a woman conquered.

Men are Moved by two levers only: fear and self interest.

There are but two powers in the world, the sword and the mind. In the long run the sword is always beaten by the mind

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

Men are more easily governed through their vices than through their virtues.

Circumstances-what are circumstances? I make circumstances

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

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.