Napoleon Bonaparte

French Emperor and conqueror

Early Modern influential 138 sayings

Sayings by Napoleon Bonaparte

You don't reason with intellectuals. You shoot them.

Not specified — A darkly humorous and authoritarian statement.
Humorous Unverifiable

From the sublime to the ridiculous is but a step.

December 1812 — Said during his retreat from Russia, reflecting on the rapid change of fortunes.
Humorous Confirmed

That is worthy of me.

During his exile on St. Helena — Exclaimed, laughing, after breaking a thermometer while trying to remove it from an ice-making machi…
Humorous Unverifiable

Hats off gentlemen! Were this man still alive, I would not be here today.

Approx. 1807 — Said to his marshals when visiting Frederick the Great's tomb, after they failed to remove their hat…
Humorous Unverifiable

I have my own.

Approx. 1807 — His response when asked why he didn't take Frederick the Great's sword from his tomb.
Humorous Unverifiable

Please, no jokes!

Not precisely dated — During a discussion about divorce with a law specialist, Phillipe-Antoine Merlin, Napoleon misunders…
Humorous Unverifiable

The word impossible is not French.

July 9, 1813 — From a letter to General Jean Le Marois, governor of Magdeburg, when facing difficulties.
Humorous Confirmed

I awoke full of you. Your image and the intoxicating pleasures of last night have left my senses no rest.

Approx. 1796-1797 — From a letter to Josephine.
Humorous Unverifiable

I hope before long to crush you in my arms and cover you with a million kisses burning as though beneath the equator.

Approx. 1796-1797 — From a letter to Josephine.
Humorous Unverifiable

Till then, a thousand kisses… but give me none back for they set my blood on fire.

Approx. 1796-1797 — From a letter to Josephine.
Humorous Unverifiable

They say that you are as fat as a good Normandy farmeress.

February 1797 — From a letter to Josephine, a teasing remark about her weight.
Humorous Unverifiable

What on earth have I done to think only of you to love only Josephine to live only for my wife to enjoy happiness only with my dear.

February 1797 — From a letter to Josephine, complaining about her lack of communication.
Humorous Unverifiable

I generally had to give in. I never was truly my own master but was always ruled by circumstances.

Approx. 1815-1821 — A reflective statement during his exile on St. Helena.
Humorous Unverifiable

A woman laughing is a woman conquered.

Not specified — A general observation on women.
Humorous Unverifiable

My mistresses do not in the least engage my feelings. Power is my mistress.

Not specified — Reflecting on his priorities.
Humorous Unverifiable

This soldier, I realized, must have had friends at home and in his regiment; yet he lay there deserted by all except his dog.

After a battle — On finding a dog beside its dead master after a battle.
Humorous Unverifiable

If a woman abandoned her marital home, how can we compel her to reintegrate it?

Not precisely dated — During a discussion with a law specialist, Merlin, about divorce.
Humorous Unverifiable

Either you're crazy, or I am!

Not specified — Said to a new foreign soldier who, due to a misunderstanding of French, answered Napoleon's question…
Humorous Unverifiable

Both, sir!

Not specified — The soldier's reply to Napoleon's question 'Either you're crazy, or I am!'
Humorous Unverifiable

The only conquests which are permanent are those achieved over ignorance.

Unknown — Attributed, reflecting his support for education and the sciences
Humorous Unverifiable