--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Was it possible that Napoleon should win…" description: "\"Was it possible that Napoleon should win the battle of Waterloo? We answer, No! Why? Because of Wellington? Because of Blucher? No! Because of God! For..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/212/victor-hugo-32_answers_was-it-possible-that-napoleon-should-win_1285916.jpg" --- # Was it possible that Napoleon should win the battle of… ![“Was it possible that Napoleon should win the battle of Waterloo? We answer, No! Why? Because of Wellington? Because of Blucher? No! Because of God! For Bonaparte to conquer at Waterloo was not the law of the nineteenth century. It was time that this vast man should fall. He had been impeached…” quote by Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/212/victor-hugo-32_answers_was-it-possible-that-napoleon-should-win_1285916.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/212/victor-hugo-32_answers_was-it-possible-that-napoleon-should-win_1285916.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/212/victor-hugo-32_answers_was-it-possible-that-napoleon-should-win_1285916.jpg) > “Was it possible that Napoleon should win the battle of Waterloo? We answer, No! Why? Because of Wellington? Because of Blucher? No! Because of God! For Bonaparte to conquer at Waterloo was not the law of the nineteenth century. It was time that this vast man should fall. He had been impeached before the Infinite! He had vexed God! Waterloo was not a battle. It was the change of front of the Universe!” [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The defeat at Waterloo was inevitable, driven by divine will rather than military tactics. **In simple terms:** Divine destiny overruled human plans. Key Takeaway Consider larger forces beyond strategy. Themes fate divine will history war Mood thoughtful critical Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - military analysis - theological debate - philosophical reflection - literary critique Key Concepts determinism theology historical inevitability Questions to Reflect On - Is destiny a valid explanation for historical outcomes? - How do we balance agency and fate? A Different Perspective Attributing events to God can oversimplify complex causes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Battle Waterloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle-waterloo-1566947/) [Because Of God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because-of-god/) [Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bonaparte/) [Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century/) [Conquer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conquer/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Fronts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fronts/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Infinite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinite/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Napoleon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/napoleon/) [Napoleon Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/napoleon-win-4171646/) [Nineteenth century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nineteenth-century/) [Possible Napoleon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible-napoleon-4171644/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Waterloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waterloo/) [Waterloo Answer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waterloo-answer-4171645/) [Waterloo Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waterloo-battle-3955025/) [Wellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wellington/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [“Was it possible that Napoleon should have won that battle? We answer No. Why? Because of Wellington? Because of Blucher? No. Because of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/was-it-possible-that-napoleon-should-have-won-that-battle-we-answer/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Waterloo is a battle of the first rank won by a captain of the second](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/waterloo-is-a-battle-of-the-first-rank-won-by-a-captain-of-the-second/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [You can decide to invade Russia at dinner, pick Waterloo for battle on a whim. It's the details, the small stuff. Its easy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-can-decide-to-invade-russia-at-dinner-pick-waterloo-for-battle-on/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Probably the battle of Waterloo was won on the playing-fields of Eton, but the opening battles of all subsequent wars have been lost there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/probably-the-battle-of-waterloo-was-won-on-the-playing-fields-of-eton/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“In his preparations for the battle of Waterloo Napoleon contrived to produce a grand slam of mistakes. It is surprising that his great name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mclynn/in-his-preparations-for-the-battle-of-waterloo-napoleon-contrived-to/) [Frank McLynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mclynn/) > [The Battle of Waterloo is a work of art with tension and drama with its unceasing change from hope to fear and back again,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/the-battle-of-waterloo-is-a-work-of-art-with-tension-and-drama-with/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [“The peculiarity of the Battle of Waterloo was its narrow compass, with 140,000 men crammed into three square miles; the front was only four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mclynn/the-peculiarity-of-the-battle-of-waterloo-was-its-narrow-compass-with/) [Frank McLynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mclynn/) > [The battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-battle-of-waterloo-was-won-on-the-playing-fields-of-eton/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm staunch. If you are lucky enough to be able to play for your country, it seems to make you even prouder of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-mexted/i-m-staunch-if-you-are-lucky-enough-to-be-able-to-play-for-your/) [Murray Mexted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-mexted/) > [It isnt only fictional heroes to whom toast means home and comfort. It is related of the Duke of Wellington - I believe by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-david/it-isnt-only-fictional-heroes-to-whom-toast-means-home-and-comfort-it/) [Elizabeth David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-david/) > [We started out as boss and player, and Wellington was almost like my father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gifford/we-started-out-as-boss-and-player-and-wellington-was-almost-like-my/) [Frank Gifford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gifford/) > [The Duke of Wellington brought to the post of first minister immortal fame,-a quality of success which would almost seem to include all others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-duke-of-wellington-brought-to-the-post-of-first-minister-immortal/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [“I am made for autumn. Summer and I have a fickle relationship, but everything about autumn is perfect to me. Wooly jumpers, Wellington boot,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alys-fowler/i-am-made-for-autumn-summer-and-i-have-a-fickle-relationship-but/) [Alys Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alys-fowler/) > [I miss the city Bret and I live in, Wellington. It's a good place to be creative, in the same way New York is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemaine-clement/i-miss-the-city-bret-and-i-live-in-wellington-it-s-a-good-place-to-be/) [Jemaine Clement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemaine-clement/) > [He passes, struck by the stare of truculent Wellington but in the convex mirror grin unstruck the bonham eyes and fatchuck cheekchops of Jollypoldy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/he-passes-struck-by-the-stare-of-truculent-wellington-but-in-the/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) ## More by Victor Hugo > [Houses are like the human beings that inhabit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/houses-are-like-the-human-beings-that-inhabit-them/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“There is still a certain grace in a dead festival. It has been happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/there-is-still-a-certain-grace-in-a-dead-festival-it-has-been-happy/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“First I loved women, then animals, and now I love stones. They're just as amusing as women and animals and they're much less trecherous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/first-i-loved-women-then-animals-and-now-i-love-stones-they-re-just/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Nature is pitiless; she never withdraws her flowers, her music, her fragrance, and her sunlight from before human cruelty or suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/nature-is-pitiless-she-never-withdraws-her-flowers-her-music-her/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Have courage for the great sorrows of life, and patience for the small ones. And when you have finished your daily task, go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/have-courage-for-the-great-sorrows-of-life-and-patience-for-the-small/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [The peasants of the Asturias believe that in every litter of wolves there is one pup that is killed by the mother for fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/the-peasants-of-the-asturias-believe-that-in-every-litter-of-wolves/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Great blunders are often made, like large ropes, of a multitude of fibres.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/great-blunders-are-often-made-like-large-ropes-of-a-multitude-of/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“For love is like a tree; it grows of itself; it send its roots deep into our being, and often continues to grow green…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/for-love-is-like-a-tree-it-grows-of-itself-it-send-its-roots-deep/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Blacheville smiles with the self-satisfied smugness of a man whose vanity is tickled”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/blacheville-smiles-with-the-self-satisfied-smugness-of-a-man-whose/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Loving in ignorance, she loved with all the more passion. She did not know whether it was good or evil, beneficent or dangerous, necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/loving-in-ignorance-she-loved-with-all-the-more-passion-she-did-not/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/laughter-is-the-sun-that-drives-winter-from-the-human-face/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Our joys have shadows. The perfect smile belongs to God alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/our-joys-have-shadows-the-perfect-smile-belongs-to-god-alone/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“When those we love are in question, our prudence invents every sort of madness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/when-those-we-love-are-in-question-our-prudence-invents-every-sort-of/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Love is a fault; so be it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/love-is-a-fault-so-be-it/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) [Explore all 2,181 Victor Hugo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) ## More Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [“As long as you keep searching,the answers will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/as-long-as-you-keep-searching-the-answers-will-come/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) [Browse all 7,843 Answers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Was it possible that Napoleon should win the battle of Waterloo? We answer, No! Why? Because of Wellington? Because of Blucher? No! Because of God! For Bonaparte to conquer at Waterloo was not the law of the nineteenth century. It was time that this vast man should fall. He had been impeached before the Infinite! He had vexed God! Waterloo was not a battle. It was the change of front of the Universe!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Victor Hugo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/was-it-possible-that-napoleon-should-win-the-battle-of-waterloo-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Answers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/was-it-possible-that-napoleon-should-win-the-battle-of-waterloo-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/212/victor-hugo-32_answers_was-it-possible-that-napoleon-should-win_1285916.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/212/victor-hugo-32_answers_was-it-possible-that-napoleon-should-win_1285916.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/212/victor-hugo-32_answers_was-it-possible-that-napoleon-should-win_1285916.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Was it possible that Napoleon should win the battle of Waterloo? We answer, No! Why? Because of Wellington?…” — Victor Hugo", "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": "Victor Hugo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Was it possible that Napoleon should...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/was-it-possible-that-napoleon-should-win-the-battle-of-waterloo-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/was-it-possible-that-napoleon-should-win-the-battle-of-waterloo-we/#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 } } ] } ```