Quote by Napoleon Bonaparte

[Cleocima]

I've read that Napoleon said: I thank whatever Gods there may be for my unconquerable spirit. Can anyone confirm this? Also, although I can roughly translate this as: Je remercie n'importe quels Dieux qu'ils soivent pour mon esprit invincible, does anyone know Napoleon's actual words?

[Octavius]

Hmm, not sure about that but there is a poem containing those lines�.

Invictus by William Ernest Henley (1849�1903)

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

[Cleocima]

I know all about the poem, but it doesn't solve the quote query from Napoleon who lived long before the English poet.

[lafrancaise]

It would be interesting to know where you discovered that these words were spoken by Napol�on. They relate to McVeigh's last words before he died.

[Cleocima]

Could you please give me more information about McVeigh.
I'm sure the Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh isn't the gentleman you have in mind?

[lafrancaise]

Yes he is. In fact, he brought Henley's magnificent poem back into the limelight again. i just don't see where the link is with Napoleon!

[Cleocima]

The line attributed to Napoleon is not exactly the same as the one in Invictus, but near enough to suggest that William Ernest Henley may have been influenced by it, don't you think?

[Octavius]

Yes, so get to the point.

Who and where did you see or hear this attribution? If you can provide some form of source for your original query it might help us answer.

If you want the line from the poem in French, that is a different matter.

[Cleocima]

No, the line from the poem in French would only be a translation. As far as the original source is concerned I have been assured that at least three differnt books about Napoleon refer to it. I'll endeavour to trace them and keep you informed.

[Octavius]

This site seems to be quite resourceful:

http://www.napoleonguide.com/aquotes.htm