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Conquer the world Quote by Victor Hugo

“Be fair, my friends! To be the empire of such an emperor, what a splendid destiny for a nation, when that nation is France, and when it adds its genius to the genius of such a man ! To appear and to reign, to march and to triumph, to have every capital for a staging area, to take his grenadiers…” quote by Victor Hugo
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““Be fair, my friends! To be the empire of such an emperor, what a splendid destiny for a nation, when that nation is France, and when it adds its genius to the genius of such a man ! To appear and to reign, to march and to triumph, to have every capital for a staging area, to take his grenadiers and make kings of them, to decree the downfall of dynasties, to transfigure Europe at a double quickstep, so men feel, when you threaten, that you are laying your hand on the hilt of God’s sword, to follow in one man Hannibal , Caesar, and Charlemagne, to be the people of a man who mingles with your every dawn the glorious announcement of a battle won, to be wakened in the morning by the cannon of the Invalides, to hurl into the vault of day mighty words that blaze forever, Marengo, Arcola, Austerlitz, lena, Wagram ! To repeatedly call forth constellations of victories at the zenith of the centuries, to make the French Empire the successor of the Roman Empire, to be the grand nation and to bring forth the Grand Army, to send your legions flying across the whole earth as a mountain sends out its eagles, to vanquish, to rule, to strike thunder, to be for Europe a kind of golden people through glory, to sound through history a Titan’s fanfare, to conquer the world twice, by conquest and by resplendence, that is sublime. What could be greater?" "To be free," said Combeferre.””

Victor Hugo

About This Quote

Source Speech: Napoleon Bonaparte, 1805 (historical dramatization)

He glorifies French imperial ambition, comparing it to historic conquerors and urging relentless expansion and glory.

In simple terms: He praises French empire’s greatness and relentless conquest.

Key Takeaway

Pursue greatness through bold ambition.

Themes

ambition nationalism military history

Mood

dramatic propagandistic

Type

historical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • military strategy
  • political rhetoric
  • cultural pride
  • education

Key Concepts

imperialism heroic myth national destiny

Questions to Reflect On

  • Is endless conquest sustainable?
  • What are the moral costs of empire?
A Different Perspective

Such zeal can ignore human cost and ethical limits.

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