Insights and Observations from Napoleon Bonaparte: A Baker's Dozen

The Emperor in His Study.
Jacques-Louis David

I once read that Napoleon Bonaparte was the most written about man of the 19th century. More than 100,000 books were penned. This alone should signal that he was more than just a famous general. He began his life as the second son of a minor provincial family in Corsica. Circumstances and ambition helped him rise to become Emperor of France. With a firm hand he ended the insanity of the French Revolution and its beheading of aristocrats. Once France had been stabilized he set about to establish an education system, improve the infrastructure and set in place the Napoleonic Code.

What I found striking was how much of an original thinker he was. According to military historians, of the top 20 most brilliant battles in world history (based on strategy) Napoleon was the general who conceived and executed 12 of these. That's a pretty impressive statement. 

Anyways, all I wished to accomplish here was to share a dozen quotes from this historic figure. (EdNote: I am not attempting to hold him on a pedestal in every respect, for I am conscious of his shortcomings. Most of these quotes still have relevance today, for individuals and for nations.)

* * * 

The reason most people fail instead of succeed is they trade what they want most for what they want at the moment.

EdNote: An early example of the principle of deferred gratification.

                                                * * * 

All great events hang by a hair. The man of ability takes advantage of everything and neglects nothing that can give him a chance of success; whilst the less able man sometimes loses everything by neglecting a single one of those chances.

                                                 * * * 

The barbarous custom of having men beaten who are suspected of having important secrets to reveal must be abolished. It has always been recognized that this way of interrogating men, by putting them to torture, produces nothing worthwhile. The poor wretches say anything that comes into their mind and what they think the interrogator wishes to know.

EdNote: So why were we still waterboarding in the 21st century?

                                  * * * 

A form of government that is not the result of a long sequence of shared experiences, efforts, and endeavors can never take root.

EdNote: How did we think we could somehow turn Afghanistan into a modern democracy?

                                   * * * 

From the sublime to the ridiculous is but a step.

EdNote: Do we not see this born out daily on social media?

                                       * * *  

The word impossible is not French.

EdNote: Is this the origin of Possibility Thinking?

Corollary: Perhaps this is why the French generals kept sending waves of infantry with only rifles and bayonets to assault German machine guns in WWI. 

                                                 * * * 

As a rule it is circumstances that make men.

EdNote: As I look back on my career, it is apparent that my greatest successes were as much due to circumstances that gave me the opportunity to thrive. 

Corollary: Good leaders understand that they can get the best from their team by creating a culture where their employees have the opportunity to really achieve something.

                                    * * *  

Napoleon before the Sphinx. Photo: G. Firstenberg

The only way to lead people is to show them a future: a leader is a dealer in hope.

EdNote: "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope."--Helen Keller

                                 * * * 

Conscience is the most sacred thing among men. Every man has within him a still small voice, which tells him that nothing on earth can oblige him to believe that which he does not believe. 

                                     * * *  

Man loves the marvelous. It has an irresistible charm for him. He is always ready to leave that with which he is familiar to pursue vain inventions. He lends himself to his own deception.

Today we call this the "Shiny New Toy" syndrome

                                      * * *  

A man who has no consideration for the needs of his men ought never to be given command.

EdNote: Amen.

                                       * * *  

What then is, generally speaking, the truth of history? A fable agreed upon.

                                        * * *  

My most splendid campaign was that of March 20; not a single shot was fired.

                                         * * *  

EdNote: The painting of Napoleon gazing on the Sphinx is by Jean-Leon Gerome, 1886. It is not a photo by Gary Firstenberg.

For more quotes from Napoleon Bonaparte, visit:

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Napoleon_Bonaparte