Napoleon's Marshals

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, New Age, History, Fiction & Literature
Cover of the book Napoleon's Marshals by R. P. Dunn-Pattison, Library of Alexandria
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: R. P. Dunn-Pattison ISBN: 9781465558916
Publisher: Library of Alexandria Publication: March 8, 2015
Imprint: Language: English
Author: R. P. Dunn-Pattison
ISBN: 9781465558916
Publisher: Library of Alexandria
Publication: March 8, 2015
Imprint:
Language: English
It is a melancholy but instructive fact to remember that, in the opinion of him whom nature had adorned with the greatest intellect that the world has yet seen, selfishness and self-interest lie at the root of all human action. "For," as Napoleon said, "in ambition is to be found the chief motive force of humanity, and a man puts forth his best powers in proportion to his hopes of advancement." It was on this cynical hypothesis therefore, with a complete disregard of those higher aspirations of self-sacrifice and self-control which raise man above the mere brute, that the Corsican adventurer waded through seas of blood to the throne of France, and then attempted, by the destruction of a million human beings, to bind on his brow the imperial crown of Western Europe. In spite of loud-sounding phrases and constitutional sleight-of-hand, none knew better than Napoleon that by the sword alone he had won his empire and by the sword alone he could keep it. Keen student of history, it was not in vain that again and again he had read and re-read the works of Cæsar, and pondered on the achievements of Charlemagne and the career of Cromwell. The problem he had to solve was, how to conceal from his lieutenants that his dynasty rested purely on their swords, to bind their honours so closely to his own fortune that they should ever be loyal; so to distribute his favours that his servants should never become so great as to threaten his own position. It was with this object in view that at the time he seized for himself the imperial crown he re-established the old rôle of Marshal of France, frankly confessing to Roederer that his reason for showering rewards on his lieutenants was to assure to himself his own dignity, since they could not object to it when they found themselves the recipients of such lofty titles.
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
It is a melancholy but instructive fact to remember that, in the opinion of him whom nature had adorned with the greatest intellect that the world has yet seen, selfishness and self-interest lie at the root of all human action. "For," as Napoleon said, "in ambition is to be found the chief motive force of humanity, and a man puts forth his best powers in proportion to his hopes of advancement." It was on this cynical hypothesis therefore, with a complete disregard of those higher aspirations of self-sacrifice and self-control which raise man above the mere brute, that the Corsican adventurer waded through seas of blood to the throne of France, and then attempted, by the destruction of a million human beings, to bind on his brow the imperial crown of Western Europe. In spite of loud-sounding phrases and constitutional sleight-of-hand, none knew better than Napoleon that by the sword alone he had won his empire and by the sword alone he could keep it. Keen student of history, it was not in vain that again and again he had read and re-read the works of Cæsar, and pondered on the achievements of Charlemagne and the career of Cromwell. The problem he had to solve was, how to conceal from his lieutenants that his dynasty rested purely on their swords, to bind their honours so closely to his own fortune that they should ever be loyal; so to distribute his favours that his servants should never become so great as to threaten his own position. It was with this object in view that at the time he seized for himself the imperial crown he re-established the old rôle of Marshal of France, frankly confessing to Roederer that his reason for showering rewards on his lieutenants was to assure to himself his own dignity, since they could not object to it when they found themselves the recipients of such lofty titles.

More books from Library of Alexandria

Cover of the book Daisy Burns (Complete) by R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Cover of the book Enamels and Cameos and Other Poems by R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Cover of the book The Beasts' Confession by R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Cover of the book The Man in the Twilight by R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Cover of the book Story of Creation as Told by Theology and by Science by R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Cover of the book A History of the British Army (Complete) by R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Cover of the book An Ambitious Woman: A Novel by R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Cover of the book The Sandman's Hour: Stories for Bedtime by R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Cover of the book The Philosophy of the Moral Feelings by R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Cover of the book A Servant of Satan: Romantic Career of Prado the Assassin by R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Cover of the book A Daughter of the Forest by R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Cover of the book Letters from Egypt by R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Cover of the book The Cries of London: Exhibiting Several of The Itinerant Traders of Antient and Modern Times by R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Cover of the book The Gerrard Street Mystery and Other Weird Tales by R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Cover of the book Dorothy and other Italian Stories by R. P. Dunn-Pattison
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy