Napoleon I of France - War Quotes

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In war one must lean on an obstacle in order to overcome it.

Napoleon I of France
In war, three-quarters turns on personal character and relations; the balance of manpower and materials counts only for the remaining quarter.

Napoleon I of France
Achilles was the son of a goddess and of a mortal; in that, he is the image of the genius of war. The divine part is all that that is derived from moral considerations of character, talent, the interest of your adversary, of opinion, of the temper of the soldier, which is strong and victorious, or feeble and beaten, according as he believes this divine part to be. The mortal part is the arms, the fortifications, the order of battle — everything which arises out of material things.

Napoleon I of France
In war, theory is all right so far as general principles are concerned; but in reducing general principles to practice there will always be danger. Theory and practice are the axis about which the sphere of accomplishment revolves.

Napoleon I of France
War is a serious game in which a man risks his reputation, his troops, and his country. A sensible man will search himself to know whether or not he is fitted for the trade.

Napoleon I of France
Changing from the defensive to the offensive, is one of the most delicate operations in war.

Napoleon I of France
Gentleness, good treatment, honor the victor and dishonor the vanquished, who should remain aloof and owe nothing to pity — In war, audacity is the finest calculation of genius.

Napoleon I of France
War is a lottery in which nations ought to risk nothing but small amounts.

Napoleon I of France
If the art of war were nothing but the art of avoiding risks, glory would become the prey of mediocre minds.... I have made all the calculations; fate will do the rest.

Napoleon I of France
There is only one favorable moment in war; talent consists in knowing how to seize it.

Napoleon I of France
In civil war it is not given to every man to know how to conduct himself. There is something more than military prudence necessary; there is need of sagacity and the knowledge of men.

Napoleon I of France
In war, character and opinion make more than half of the reality.

Napoleon I of France
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.

Napoleon I of France
In war, groping tactics, half-way measures, lose everything.

Napoleon I of France
It is an approved maxim in war, never to do what the enemy wishes you to do, for this reason alone, that he desires it.

Napoleon I of France