I’m sorry to everyone not in the US. The coming years will have American influence exercised in the worst possible ways. I wish I had more to give. Please stay strong, and preserve your own democracies while you can.
I’m sorry to everyone not in the US. The coming years will have American influence exercised in the worst possible ways. I wish I had more to give. Please stay strong, and preserve your own democracies while you can.
I like the sentiment, but picking Napoleon is a bit ironic given that he was very much on the wrong side of history.
He actually wrote that during his final exile in St. Helena. A lot of reflection. Funny what people see when they’re no longer in power.
Still bold things to say from someone who declared himself emperor of the world a la Roman style and opposed most of revolutionary ideas of freedom and democracy…twice.
On one hand, Napoleon was a narcissist who was more than happy to rig elections and rule as an autocrat.
On the other hand, he was genuinely more liberal than the anciens regimes he conquered, and was a dedicated supporter of the French Revolution when he was a common officer.
Power corrupts - and corrupts arrogant men more than most, I think.
That’s true. He was very much like Augustus in that respect (a comparison he probably would have appreciated)