--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men will risk their lives, even die for…" description: "\"Men will risk their lives, even die for ribbons.\" — Napoleon Bonaparte" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/napoleon-bonaparte-206_men_men-will-risk-their-lives-even-die-for-r_191506.jpg" --- # Men will risk their lives, even die for ribbons. ![“Men will risk their lives, even die for ribbons.” quote by Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/napoleon-bonaparte-206_men_men-will-risk-their-lives-even-die-for-r_191506.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/napoleon-bonaparte-206_men_men-will-risk-their-lives-even-die-for-r_191506.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/napoleon-bonaparte-206_men_men-will-risk-their-lives-even-die-for-r_191506.jpg) > “Men will risk their lives, even die for ribbons.” [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. People may sacrifice everything for symbols of prestige, even when those symbols are meaningless. **In simple terms:** Ribbons motivate reckless sacrifice. Key Takeaway Question the true value of honors. Themes honor sacrifice motivation Mood reflective serious Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - soldier recruitment - award ceremonies - team incentives Key Concepts military culture symbolic reward Questions to Reflect On - What drives you to seek recognition? - Are symbols worth risking life? A Different Perspective The drive for recognition can foster unhealthy competition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Die Ribbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/die-ribbons-2021528/) [Lives Die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives-die-2021529/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-risk-316034/) [Ribbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ribbons/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Risk Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk-lives-426708/) ## Related quotes > [When a mother or father is willing to pay smugglers and risk the lives of their own children by sending them on a dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/when-a-mother-or-father-is-willing-to-pay-smugglers-and-risk-the/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [“This is what men risk so much for; this shiver, this acute heat and desire. This is what they think eternity feels like.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendare-blake/this-is-what-men-risk-so-much-for-this-shiver-this-acute-heat-and/) [Kendare Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendare-blake/) > [“Women try their luck; men risk theirs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/women-try-their-luck-men-risk-theirs/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Men are at risk for breast cancer as well. That's absolutely true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-varshavski/men-are-at-risk-for-breast-cancer-as-well-that-s-absolutely-true/) [Mikhail Varshavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-varshavski/) > [Think about it. For the sake of fame, men will risk great dangers. They put themselves in the jaws of death more than for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-essex/think-about-it-for-the-sake-of-fame-men-will-risk-great-dangers-they/) [Karen Essex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-essex/) > [“But in the West few men would risk bothering a woman. It was the one thing the frontier would not accept - Kilkenny”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/but-in-the-west-few-men-would-risk-bothering-a-woman-it-was-the-one/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [Even when a man and a woman perform equally well in a task - say, solving math problems - men are more willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sendhil-mullainathan/even-when-a-man-and-a-woman-perform-equally-well-in-a-task-say/) [Sendhil Mullainathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sendhil-mullainathan/) > [“I often wondered why men will risk almost certain death in an attempt to save other men. I decided it was because men will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-hull/i-often-wondered-why-men-will-risk-almost-certain-death-in-an-attempt/) [Jonathan Hull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-hull/) > [Some men storm imaginary Alps all their lives, and die in the foothills cursing difficulties which do not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/some-men-storm-imaginary-alps-all-their-lives-and-die-in-the/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [We are both going to pray that we may live together all our lives and die the same day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-both-going-to-pray-that-we-may-live-together-all-our-lives-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Thou know'st 'tis common; all that lives must die, Passing through nature to eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thou-know-st-tis-common-all-that-lives-must-die-passing-through/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The things in our lives that die and can't be laid to rest hurt the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-webb/the-things-in-our-lives-that-die-and-can-t-be-laid-to-rest-hurt-the/) [Haley Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-webb/) > [The man that runs away lives to die another day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aehousman/the-man-that-runs-away-lives-to-die-another-day/) [AEHousman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aehousman/) > [Whatever lives, lives to die in sorrow. We engage our hearts, and grasp after the things of this world, only to undergo the pang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/whatever-lives-lives-to-die-in-sorrow-we-engage-our-hearts-and-grasp/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [“We’re all dying from the moment we’re born. That’s all we do our entire lives, is die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-hart/we-re-all-dying-from-the-moment-we-re-born-that-s-all-we-do-our/) [Megan Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-hart/) ## 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 Men quotes > [When I passed the Chancellor he arose, waved his hand at me, and I waved back at him. I think the writers showed bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/when-i-passed-the-chancellor-he-arose-waved-his-hand-at-me-and-i/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [We do not want nowadays temples of worship and outward rites and ceremonies. What we really want is an Asram. We want a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/we-do-not-want-nowadays-temples-of-worship-and-outward-rites-and/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Most celebrated men live in a condition of prostitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/most-celebrated-men-live-in-a-condition-of-prostitution/) [Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/) > [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. MARTIN LUTHER, letter to Chancellor Gregory Brück, January 13,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/i-cannot-forbid-a-person-to-marry-several-wives-for-it-does-not/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [Hats off to starting a franchise younger than we all did in 'Twilight' and keeping your cool. The 'Harry Potter' men and women had,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellan-lutz/hats-off-to-starting-a-franchise-younger-than-we-all-did-in-twilight/) [Kellan Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellan-lutz/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [“Every select man strives instinctively for a citadel and a privacy, where he is FREE from the crowd, the many, the majority-- where he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/every-select-man-strives-instinctively-for-a-citadel-and-a-privacy/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) [Browse all 84,229 Men quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Men will risk their lives, even die for ribbons.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Napoleon Bonaparte" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/men-will-risk-their-lives-even-die-for-ribbons/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Men" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/men-will-risk-their-lives-even-die-for-ribbons/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/napoleon-bonaparte-206_men_men-will-risk-their-lives-even-die-for-r_191506.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/napoleon-bonaparte-206_men_men-will-risk-their-lives-even-die-for-r_191506.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/napoleon-bonaparte-206_men_men-will-risk-their-lives-even-die-for-r_191506.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Men will risk their lives, even die for ribbons.” — Napoleon Bonaparte", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Napoleon Bonaparte", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Men will risk their lives, even...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/men-will-risk-their-lives-even-die-for-ribbons/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/men-will-risk-their-lives-even-die-for-ribbons/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```