--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: From triumph to downfall there is but one…" description: "\"From triumph to downfall there is but one step. I have noted that, in the most momentous occasions, mere nothings have always decided the outcome of th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d29/napoleon-bonaparte-206_downfall_from-triumph-to-downfall-there-is-but-on_3180782.jpg" --- # From triumph to downfall there is but one step. I have… ![“From triumph to downfall there is but one step. I have noted that, in the most momentous occasions, mere nothings have always decided the outcome of the greatest events.” quote by Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d29/napoleon-bonaparte-206_downfall_from-triumph-to-downfall-there-is-but-on_3180782.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d29/napoleon-bonaparte-206_downfall_from-triumph-to-downfall-there-is-but-on_3180782.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d29/napoleon-bonaparte-206_downfall_from-triumph-to-downfall-there-is-but-on_3180782.jpg) > “From triumph to downfall there is but one step. I have noted that, in the most momentous occasions, mere nothings have always decided the outcome of the greatest events.” [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Small, seemingly insignificant factors can determine the outcome of great events. **In simple terms:** Tiny details can decide big outcomes. Key Takeaway Pay attention to minor elements that could sway results. Themes leadership risk decision making Mood reflective cautionary Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - military planning - business negotiations - project management Key Concepts contingency critical moments small factors Questions to Reflect On - Which small factor could change your current project? - Do you risk enough to ignore minor risks? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on minor details can cause paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Downfall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/downfall/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Occasions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occasions/) [Triumph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/triumph/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) ## Related quotes > [From triumph to downfall is but a step. I have seen a trifle decide the most important issues in the gravest affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/from-triumph-to-downfall-is-but-a-step-i-have-seen-a-trifle-decide/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The greatest events of an age are its best thoughts. Thought finds its way into action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/the-greatest-events-of-an-age-are-its-best-thoughts-thought-finds-its/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [“in accordance with the primitive arrangement of things, the most trifling causes produce the greatest events, and the grandest undertakings end in the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolai-gogol/in-accordance-with-the-primitive-arrangement-of-things-the-most/) [Nikolai Gogol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolai-gogol/) > [The greatest events of history are those which affect the greatest number for the longest periods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/the-greatest-events-of-history-are-those-which-affect-the-greatest/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“the greatest events – they are not our loudest but our stillest hours. Not around the inventors of new noise, but around the inventors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neitzsche/the-greatest-events-they-are-not-our-loudest-but-our-stillest-hours-2/) Neitzsche > [“Sometimes an event happens that is so great the world is never the same again after it. In the twentieth century one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-deary/sometimes-an-event-happens-that-is-so-great-the-world-is-never-the/) [Terry Deary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-deary/) > [“The greatest events- they are not noisiest but our stillest hours. The world revolves, not around the inventors of new noises, but around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-greatest-events-they-are-not-noisiest-but-our-stillest-hours-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The greatest events occur without intention playing any part in them; chance makes good mistakes and undoes the most carefully planned undertaking. The world's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/the-greatest-events-occur-without-intention-playing-any-part-in-them/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [The greatest events-they are not our loudest but our stillest hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-greatest-events-they-are-not-our-loudest-but-our-stillest-hours/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [My downfall raises me to infinite heights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/my-downfall-raises-me-to-infinite-heights/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to permit the conquered Eastern peoples to have arms. History teaches that all conquerors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-most-foolish-mistake-we-could-possibly-make-would-be-to-permit/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [Greetings, O Great Gazoo. How nice of you to join us here on planet Earth again. (Cael) Thanks, Barney. How’s Betty and Bam Bam…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/greetings-o-great-gazoo-how-nice-of-you-to-join-us-here-on-planet/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I feel like the downfall of any person is the second an artist starts celebrating their work themselves, that becomes problematic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/questlove/i-feel-like-the-downfall-of-any-person-is-the-second-an-artist-starts/) [Questlove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/questlove/) > [ Corruption could lead to the collapse of the Party \[Communist Party of China\] and the downfall of the state \[People's Republic of China\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xi-jinping/corruption-could-lead-to-the-collapse-of-the-party-communist-party-of/) [Xi Jinping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xi-jinping/) > [This town will be the downfall of us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-day-to-remember/this-town-will-be-the-downfall-of-us-all/) [A Day To Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-day-to-remember/) ## More by Napoleon Bonaparte > [He is almost a statesman. He lies well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/he-is-almost-a-statesman-he-lies-well/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Men grow old quickly on the battlefield.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/men-grow-old-quickly-on-the-battlefield/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The only victories which leave no regret are those which are gained over ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-only-victories-which-leave-no-regret-are-those-which-are-gained/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [When a government is dependent upon bankers for money, they and not the leaders of the government control the situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/when-a-government-is-dependent-upon-bankers-for-money-they-and-not/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [In the eyes of empire builders men are not men but instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/in-the-eyes-of-empire-builders-men-are-not-men-but-instruments/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [All becomes easy when we follow the current of opinion; it is the ruler of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/all-becomes-easy-when-we-follow-the-current-of-opinion-it-is-the/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The bullet that will kill me is not yet cast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-bullet-that-will-kill-me-is-not-yet-cast/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [A great reputation is a great noise, the more there is of it, and the further does it swell. Land, monuments, Nations, all fall,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-great-reputation-is-a-great-noise-the-more-there-is-of-it-and-the/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Character is victory organized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/character-is-victory-organized/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Republican despotism is more fertile in acts of tyranny, because everyone has a hand in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/republican-despotism-is-more-fertile-in-acts-of-tyranny-because/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [My decision to destroy the authority of the blacks in Saint Domingue (Haiti) is not so much based on considerations of commerce and money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/my-decision-to-destroy-the-authority-of-the-blacks-in-saint-domingue/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The army is the true nobility of our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-army-is-the-true-nobility-of-our-country/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [There is only one favorable moment in war; talent consists in knowing how to seize it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/there-is-only-one-favorable-moment-in-war-talent-consists-in-knowing/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [A great reserve and severity of manners are necessary for the command of those who are older than ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-great-reserve-and-severity-of-manners-are-necessary-for-the-command/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) [Explore all 914 Napoleon Bonaparte quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) ## More Downfall quotes > [This town will be the downfall of us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-day-to-remember/this-town-will-be-the-downfall-of-us-all/) [A Day To Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-day-to-remember/) > [ Corruption could lead to the collapse of the Party \[Communist Party of China\] and the downfall of the state \[People's Republic of China\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xi-jinping/corruption-could-lead-to-the-collapse-of-the-party-communist-party-of/) [Xi Jinping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xi-jinping/) > [I feel like the downfall of any person is the second an artist starts celebrating their work themselves, that becomes problematic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/questlove/i-feel-like-the-downfall-of-any-person-is-the-second-an-artist-starts/) [Questlove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/questlove/) > [Greetings, O Great Gazoo. How nice of you to join us here on planet Earth again. (Cael) Thanks, Barney. How’s Betty and Bam Bam…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/greetings-o-great-gazoo-how-nice-of-you-to-join-us-here-on-planet/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to permit the conquered Eastern peoples to have arms. History teaches that all conquerors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-most-foolish-mistake-we-could-possibly-make-would-be-to-permit/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [For what am I to myself without You, but a guide to my own downfall?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-what-am-i-to-myself-without-you-but-a-guide-to-my-own-downfall/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I like food too much to go on some crazy diet. French fries are my favorite downfall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-madison/i-like-food-too-much-to-go-on-some-crazy-diet-french-fries-are-my/) [Holly Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-madison/) > [What I've learned is not to take anybody's advice. If you rely solely on your fans, it sets you up for the downfall on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/what-i-ve-learned-is-not-to-take-anybody-s-advice-if-you-rely-solely/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [Like Achilles, the hero who forgot his heel, or like Icarus who, flying close to the sun, forgot that his wings were made of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-longenecker/like-achilles-the-hero-who-forgot-his-heel-or-like-icarus-who-flying/) [Dwight Longenecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-longenecker/) > [When under the influence of certain (or some) reasons (or causes) (alcohol, war, etc - added Spir here) the low instincts are unbridled (or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/when-under-the-influence-of-certain-or-some-reasons-or-causes-alcohol/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [The downfall of civilized states tends to come not from the direct assaults of foes, but from internal decay combined with the consequences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/the-downfall-of-civilized-states-tends-to-come-not-from-the-direct/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [“A company’s success can contribute to its financial and cultural downfall.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-spradlin-lead-on-mission/a-company-s-success-can-contribute-to-its-financial-and-cultural/) [Becca Spradlin, Lead On Mission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-spradlin-lead-on-mission/) > [I’m overwhelmed. My biggest downfall is my brightest blessing, I feel too much, all the time. Ya Allah, if it’ll keep my heart soft,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warsan-shire/i-m-overwhelmed-my-biggest-downfall-is-my-brightest-blessing-i-feel/) [Warsan Shire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warsan-shire/) > [“Life can beat you down and at times make you feel unlovable it can distort your sense to the point where you don't recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aireen-c-pontillo/life-can-beat-you-down-and-at-times-make-you-feel-unlovable-it-can/) Aireen C. Pontillo > [It is but little of the world yet that hath heard the lost estate of mankind and of a Savior, Christ Jesus; and as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/it-is-but-little-of-the-world-yet-that-hath-heard-the-lost-estate-of/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) [Browse all 234 Downfall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/downfall/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "From triumph to downfall there is but one step. 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