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Spartan Surfers

1769-1821

Napoleon

Corsican-born general who became Emperor of the French and redrew the map of Europe. His sayings on war, leadership and character were gathered from his letters and recorded conversation.

7 sourced lines

Every line we carry

Each one links to its source, what it means, and the shirt in any of our looks.

  1. Courage cannot be counterfeited. It is one virtue that escapes hypocrisy.

    You can fake kindness, piety or interest for a long time. Courage is tested at the exact moment it is needed, and it either shows up or it does not. That is why it is the one virtue people trust on sight.

    Napoleon in His Own Words (Jules Bertaut, 1916), Herbert Edward Law and Charles Lincoln Rhodes, 1916

  2. Never do what your enemy wants, just because he wants it.

    If the other side is hoping you will make a certain move, that alone is a reason to doubt it. Napoleon means you should never fight on ground your opponent picked for you. In a negotiation, a rivalry or an argument, notice what they are steering you toward and step somewhere else.

    Maxims of War, Maxim XVI, Sir G. C. D'Aguilar, 1831

  3. Endurance first. Courage second.

    Bravery for one moment is common; carrying on tired, cold and hungry for weeks is rare. Napoleon ranks the ability to keep going above the flash of courage. Most goals are lost to fatigue, not to fear, so train the part of you that keeps showing up.

    Maxims of War, Maxim LVIII, Sir G. C. D'Aguilar, 1831

  4. Hardship, poverty and want are the best school.

    Lean seasons teach what comfort never will: how to make do, how to keep your head and how little you actually need. Napoleon saw that soldiers formed by scarcity outlasted those formed by plenty. Treat your hard years as training, not as lost time.

    Maxims of War, Maxim LVIII, Sir G. C. D'Aguilar, 1831

  5. The only true wisdom is determined courage.

    Napoleon wrote this against long councils of war, which he said always end in the most timid choice. Endless discussion feels wise but usually produces nothing. Gather the facts, decide, and then commit with your whole weight.

    Maxims of War, Maxim LXV, Sir G. C. D'Aguilar, 1831

  6. Not lifted by good news. Not sunk by bad.

    A commander who swings with every report makes bad decisions in both directions. Napoleon wants a head that weighs news at its real value. When a deal comes through or falls apart, wait a breath before you celebrate or despair, then act on what is actually true.

    Maxims of War, Maxim LXXIII, Sir G. C. D'Aguilar, 1831

  7. Dispense with nothing. One battalion can decide the day.

    When you commit to the decisive fight, bring everything you have. Napoleon had seen battles turn on a unit that was almost left behind. On the day that matters, do not hold back the extra hour of preparation or the last bit of effort; it may be the part that wins.

    Maxims of War, Maxim XXIX, Sir G. C. D'Aguilar, 1831