Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Corsica in 1769, and died while living in exile in St. Helena at the young age of 51. The cause of his death is still disputed, with some claiming he was poisoned.
He was the French military and political leader who rose to prominence during the latter stages of the French Revolution. He was Emperor of France from 1804 to 1814, and again in 1815.
Napoleon Bonaparte had a lot to say about war and soldiering, as these quotes show.
As Emperor, Napoleon implemented a wide array of liberal reforms across Europe, including the abolition of feudalism and the spread of religious tolerance. The Napoleonic Code he created influenced numerous civil law jurisdictions worldwide.
He is widely regarded as one of the greatest commanders in history, and his campaigns are still studied at military academies worldwide.
In his personal life his relationship with his wife, the famous “Josephine” of ” not tonight……,” was characterised by the unfaithfullness of both of them. Historians are still trying to understand the exact nature of their relationship as exemplified in the oft quoted letter he reputedly sent to his wife from the battlefield: “Coming home in three days: don’t wash.”
We chose not to include that in our selection of the military quotes of Napoleon Bonaparte
- History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon
- You must not fight too often with one enemy, or you will teach him all your art of war.
- Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.
- The battlefield is a scene of constant chaos. The winner will be the one who controls that chaos, both his own and the enemies.
- A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon.
- Death is nothing, but to live defeated and inglorious is to die daily.
- The first virtue in a soldier is endurance of fatigue; courage is only the second virtue.
- Soldiers generally win battles; generals get credit for them.
- When soldiers have been baptized in the fire of a battle-field, they have all one rank in my eyes.
- The army is the true nobility of our country.
- I made all my generals out of mud.
- If they want peace, nations should avoid the pin-pricks that precede cannon shots.
- An army marches on its stomach.
- War is the business of barbarians.
- A revolution is an idea which has found its bayonets.
So, there you have an insight into Napoleon Bonaparte, and his quotes on military matters.
How do you rate him as a leader? Do you wish we had such leaders today?
France probably does!
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