Business Quote by Napoleon Bonaparte
“When small men attempt great enterprises, they always end by reducing them to the level of their mediocrity.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Unknown, attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, 19th century
Overambitious people often dilute grand ideas to match their average abilities, leading to mediocrity.
In simple terms: Great plans shrink to average when led by average people.
Key Takeaway
Beware of overreaching without capacity.
Themes
ambition
leadership
mediocrity
hubris
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
advisory
philosophical
When to use this quote
- business ventures
- political reforms
- artistic projects
- scientific endeavors
Key Concepts
ego
overextension
vision vs. ability
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you have the capacity to match your ambitions?
- How can you align vision with realistic ability?
A Different Perspective
Large goals may fail if leaders lack depth or skill.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)