It is the cause, and not the death, that makes the martyr.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Martyrdom comes from the righteousness of the cause, not the act of dying.
- In plain terms
- Being a martyr is about why you die, not the death itself.
- What can you take from it?
- Focus on the cause, not the sacrifice.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What makes someone a martyr?
- Is death necessary for a legacy?
Another view
Death often defines martyrdom in public memory regardless of the cause.
More from Napoleon Bonaparte
It is not enough that I succeed - everyone else must fail.- Adapted from Hannibal.
Permalink to quote #120 It is the province of honest men to enlighten the government.
Permalink to quote #122 It is in the workshops of the country that the most successful war is waged against an enemy, at least it does not cost a drop of its people's blood.
Permalink to quote #119
Related quotes
Martyrdom does not end something, it is only a beginning.
Indira GandhiIndira Gandhi quote #10 A cause may be inconvenient, but it's magnificent. It's like champagne or high heels, and one must be prepared to suffer for it.
Arnold BennettArnold Bennett quote #3 I always said if I lived to get grown and had a chance, I was going to try to get something for my mother and I was going to do something for the black man of …
Fannie Lou HamerFannie Lou Hamer quote #5