“From triumph to downfall is but a step. I have seen a trifle decide the most important issues in the gravest affairs.”

— Napoleon I of France

Napoleon : In His Own Words (1916)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update Oct. 1, 2023. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "From triumph to downfall is but a step. I have seen a trifle decide the most important issues in the gravest affairs." by Napoleon I of France?

Napoleon I of France 259

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

Related quotes

“The highest triumph of Bismarckian politics carried its downfall and bankruptcy within it.”

Wilhelm Liebknecht (1826–1900) German socialist politician

No Compromise – No Political Trading (1899)

“Prophets of the downfall of American democracy have seen their dire predictions come to naught.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) 32nd President of the United States

1940s, Third Inaugural Address (1941)
Context: For action has been taken within the three-way framework of the Constitution of the United States. The coordinate branches of the Government continue freely to function. The Bill of Rights remains inviolate. The freedom of elections is wholly maintained. Prophets of the downfall of American democracy have seen their dire predictions come to naught.

“It is the mark of great people to treat trifles as trifles and important matters as important.”

Doris Lessing (1919–2013) British novelist, poet, playwright, librettist, biographer and short story writer

Denn zu einem großen Manne gehört beides: Kleinigkeiten als Kleinigkeiten, und wichtige Dinge als wichtige Dinge zu behandeln.
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Hamburgische Dramaturgie (1767 - 1769), Vierunddreißigstes Stück Den 25. August 1767 http://www.gutenberg.org/files/10055/10055-8.txt
Misattributed

“It is the mark of great people to treat trifles as trifles and important matters as important.”

Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729–1781) writer, philosopher, publicist, and art critic

Denn zu einem großen Manne gehört beides: Kleinigkeiten als Kleinigkeiten, und wichtige Dinge als wichtige Dinge zu behandeln.
Hamburgische Dramaturgie http://www.gutenberg.org/files/10055/10055-8.txt (1767 - 1769), Vierunddreißigstes Stück Den 25. August 1767

“I regard reduction in Federal spending as one of the most important issues in this campaign.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) 32nd President of the United States

Campaign Address on the Federal Budget at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (October 19, 1932), quoted in The Public Papers and Addresses of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Volume 1, p. 809. http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=ppotpus;cc=ppotpus;q1=I%20regard%20reduction%20in%20Federal%20spending;rgn=full%20text;idno=4925052.1928.001;didno=4925052.1928.001;view=image;seq=00000861 http://books.google.com/books?id=LD13AAAAMAAJ&q=%22I+regard+reduction+in+Federal+spending+as+one+of+the+most+important+issues+%22&dq=%22I+regard+reduction+in+Federal+spending+as+one+of+the+most+important+issues+%22&hl=en&ei=Zj0nTsuYAc3isQLHrKk7&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAjgU http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=88399#ixzz1LgbHf7LQ
1930s
Context: I regard reduction in Federal spending as one of the most important issues in this campaign. In my opinion it is the most direct and effective contribution that Government can make to business.

“I have spent most of my life as a Democrat. I recently have seen fit to follow another course. I believe that the issues confronting us cross party lines.”

Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American politician, 40th president of the United States (in office from 1981 to 1989)

1960s, A Time for Choosing (1964)

“Look at the problems such as they are issues, and see those issues as they are opportunities and you have to step into them.”

Elia M. Ramollah (1973) founder and leader of the El Yasin Community

The Great Master of Thought (Amen- Vol.3), Observing management

“Your engineers are your great artists and these highways are the most beautiful things I have seen in your beautiful country…Out of them and the machine will issue the style of tomorrow.”

Diego Rivera (1886–1957) Mexican painter, muralist, Communist

On being enchanted by engineers in “Diego Rivera: A Man and His Murals” http://teachersinstitute.yale.edu/curriculum/units/1999/2/99.02.06.x.html (Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute)

“The most important step in getting a job done is the recognition of the problem.”

Leó Szilárd (1898–1964) Physicist and biologist

As quoted in "Close-up : I'm looking for a market for wisdom. : Leo Szilard, scientist" in LIFE‎ magazine, Vol. 51, no. 9 (1 September 1961), p. 75
Context: The most important step in getting a job done is the recognition of the problem. Once I recognize a problem I usually can think of someone who can work it out better than I could.

“The people do not decide issues, they decide who shall decide.”

George Will (1941) American newspaper columnist, journalist, and author

Column, January 15, 2009, "Of Judges, By Judges, For Judges" http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/will.html at jewishworldreview.com.
2000s

“From triumph to downfall is but a step. I have seen a trifle decide the most important issues in the gravest affairs.”

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Napoleon I of France 259

Related quotes

Related topics