Quote collection
864 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Europe thus divided into nationalities freely formed and free internally, peace between States would have become easier: the United States of Europe would become a possibility."
"Imagination governs the world."
"The most terrible of all my battles was the one before Moscow. The French showed themselves to be worthy of victory, but the Russians showed themselves worthy of being invincible."
"If I had to choose a religion, the sun as the universal giver of life would be my god."
"Of all the peoples of Europe, Spaniards disgust me the least."
"The art of the police is not to see what it is useless that it should see."
"Charges of cavalry are equally useful at the beginning, the middle and the end of a battle. They should be made always, if possible, on the flanks of the infantry, especially when the latter is engaged in front."
"To make yourself understood to people, one must first speak to their eyes"
"A journalist is a grumbler, a censurer, a giver of advice, a regent of sovereigns, a tutor of nations. Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets."
"The art of war is to gain time when your strength is inferior."
"Speeches pass away, but acts remain."
"We walk faster when we walk alone."
"There is no man more pusillanimous than I when I am planning a campaign. I purposely exaggerate all the dangers and all the calamities that the circumstances make possible. I am in a thoroughly painful state of agitation. This does not keep me from looking quite serene in front of my entourage; I am like an unmarried girl laboring with child. Once I have made up my mind, everything is forgotten except what leads to success."
"A man who has no consideration for the needs of his men ought never to be given command."
"Governments keep their promises only when they are forced, or when it is to their advantage to do so."
"When your enemy is doing something wrong, do not interrupt him."
"Men are ruled by toys."
"Great men are meteors, consuming themselves to light the world"
"More glorious to merit a sceptre than to possess one."
"Generals are not to be too scrupulous."