It would have been better for the peace of France if this man had never existed.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker suggests that France would have been more stable without this individual's presence.
- In plain terms
- France would be at peace if this person never lived.
- What can you take from it?
- Some individuals cause more harm than good to their nation.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do we weigh a leader's harms against their benefits?
- Can a nation truly be better off without a specific ruler?
Another view
This view ignores any potential positive contributions the person might have made.
More from Napoleon Bonaparte
It requires more courage to suffer than to die.
Permalink to quote #123 Let China sleep. For when China wakes, it will shake the world.
Permalink to quote #125 It is the province of honest men to enlighten the government.
Permalink to quote #122
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