Quote of the day by Napoléon Bonaparte: 'There is only one thing in this world, and that is to keep acquiring money and power' A life lesson on never-ending desire for money, influence and control

Quote of the day: Napoléon Bonaparte remains one of history's most discussed rulers, largely because his life combined military success, political ambition, power and eventual downfall. A quote associated with him says, “There is only one thing in this world, and that is to keep acquiring money and more money, power and more power. All the rest is meaningless.” The line is often presented online as a Napoleon quote, but there is an important detail about its origin.

The wording is associated with Abel Gance’s 1927 silent film Napoléon, rather than being established as a documented statement made by Napoleon himself. Gance's film was an ambitious cinematic account of Napoleon's rise and is regarded by the BFI and the Cinémathèque française as an important work in film history.

Quote of the day: What does the line mean?

“There is only one thing in this world, and that is to keep acquiring money and more money, power and more power. All the rest is meaningless”


The quote presents a very blunt view of ambition. It says that money and power are the things that ultimately matter, while everything else is secondary or even worthless. The idea is not simply about becoming rich. It is about constantly wanting more, gaining greater control and never really considering the point at which enough is enough. Money can bring influence, while political or military power can allow a person to shape events around them. Put together, the two become a picture of almost unlimited ambition.

The second part of the quote makes the message even stronger. By saying that “all the rest is meaningless”, it dismisses the things people normally connect with a meaningful life, such as family, comfort, friendships, peace or personal happiness. It creates a picture of a person who measures success only by what they can gain and how much authority they can hold. Whether one agrees with the thought or not, it fits naturally into the larger story of Napoleon, whose career was marked by an extraordinary desire to rise higher, first in the army, then in politics and finally to the throne of France.

Quote of the day: Why Napoleon is linked with such an idea of ambition

Napoleon Bonaparte was born on August 15, 1769, in Ajaccio, Corsica, into a family of minor nobility. His family was not among the richest in France, and Napoleon's early years were shaped by Corsica's complicated relationship with France. His father, Carlo Bonaparte, had initially supported Corsican resistance leader Pasquale Paoli, but later accepted French rule. This helped the family gain access to opportunities in mainland France.

Napoleon was sent to France for his education while still young. He studied at the military school at Brienne and later graduated from the École Militaire in Paris. He became an artillery officer in 1785. The young officer was not born into the kind of position that guaranteed a major political future, but the French Revolution changed the system around him. The old social order was being shaken apart and military ability could suddenly take a person much further than birth alone.

From military officer to a national figure

The French Revolution began in 1789 and brought years of political and military upheaval. Napoleon's career moved quickly during this period. He became involved with revolutionary forces and was promoted after his role in military operations. In 1793, his performance at the siege of Toulon helped establish his reputation, and by 1795 he had also helped the revolutionary government deal with a royalist uprising in Paris.

His biggest early success came during the Italian campaign. In 1796, Napoleon was given command of the French Army of Italy and defeated Austrian forces in a series of battles. The victories brought him considerable fame in France and showed that he was not simply another army officer. He had become a public figure with political possibilities as well. HISTORY notes that his victories in Italy helped strengthen his position as one of France's most important military leaders.

His next major campaign was Egypt. Napoleon hoped to damage British interests and trade routes connected to India. His army won at the Battle of the Pyramids, but the campaign soon became difficult after the French fleet was badly damaged by the British at the Battle of the Nile. Napoleon eventually left his army and returned to France at a time when the country's political leadership was facing growing uncertainty.

The rise to political power

In November 1799, Napoleon played a central role in the coup known as the Coup of 18 Brumaire. The French Directory was replaced by the Consulate, and Napoleon became First Consul. He was now no longer simply a successful general. He had become the leading political figure in France.

Napoleon used that position to bring greater central control to the country. He introduced changes in administration, education and banking and worked to improve relations between the government and the Catholic Church. One of his most lasting achievements was the Civil Code, later widely known as the Napoleonic Code, which reorganised important parts of French civil law and influenced legal systems in several countries.

His growing authority soon became permanent in practice. In 1802, he became First Consul for life. In 1804, he became Emperor of the French. The Château de Versailles records that Napoleon became Emperor in 1804 and later sought to restore former royal spaces, including Versailles and the Trianon estates, as part of the imperial world he was creating.

Napoleon and the pursuit of power

This is where the quote takes on another layer when read alongside Napoleon's career. His rise did not stop after military victories. He wanted political authority, a stable government under his control and eventually an empire that extended across much of continental Europe.

His Grande Armée fought a succession of European coalitions. Napoleon won major victories and expanded French influence across large parts of Europe. By the height of his power, his authority reached across much of Western and Central Europe. He also used members of his family in his political system, placing relatives in important positions as French influence expanded.

His personal life was also connected to the question of power and succession. Napoleon married Joséphine de Beauharnais in 1796, but their marriage was annulled in 1809 because they had no surviving child together. In 1810, he married Marie Louise of Austria, and their son, Napoleon François Joseph Charles Bonaparte, was born the following year. The marriage also strengthened Napoleon's connection with one of Europe's major royal families.

The campaign that changed everything

Napoleon's growing empire eventually faced a major turning point. In 1812, he launched his disastrous invasion of Russia. The campaign badly weakened his military strength, and European powers increasingly joined together against him.

The defeats eventually forced Napoleon to abdicate in 1814. He was sent into exile on the Mediterranean island of Elba. But this was not the end of his political career. In 1815, Napoleon returned to France and regained power for what became known as the Hundred Days.

His comeback did not last. European forces confronted him again, and Napoleon suffered his decisive defeat at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815. He abdicated for a second time and was sent into exile on the remote island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic. He died there on May 5, 1821, at the age of 51.