“A constitution should be short and obscure.”

— Napoleon I of France

Quoted in The Life of Napoleon I by John Holland Rose as an exchange between Roederer and Talleyrand
Roederer tells us ("Œuvres," vol. iii., p. 428) that he had drawn up two plans of a constitution for the Cisalpine; the one very short and leaving much to the President, the other precise and detailed. He told Talleyrand to advise Bonaparte to adopt the former as it was "short and" — he was about to add "clear" when the diplomatist cut him short with the words, "Yes: short and obscure!"
Misattributed

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Napoleon I of France259

French general, First Consul and later Emperor of the French 1769–1821

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