"YourHonor, as a youngandsuccessfulmilitaryofficer, NapoléonfullysupportedtheFrenchRevolution, anditsidealsofliberty, equality, andfraternity. Buttherevolutionarieswereincapableofrealleadership.
RobespierreandtheJacobinswhofirstcametopowerunleashed a reignofterroronthepopulation, withtheiranti-Catholicextremismandnonstopexecutionsofeveryonewhodisagreedwiththem. AndTheDirectorythatreplacedthemwasanunstableandincompetentoligarchy. Theyneeded a strongleaderwhocouldgovernwiselyandjustly."
"Bethatasitmay, Napoléonintroduced a newconstitutionand a legalcodethatkeptsomeofthemostimportantachievementsoftherevolutionintact: freedomofreligion, abolitionofhereditaryprivilege, andequalitybeforethelawforallmen."
"Whichinvasionsarewetalkingabout? ItwastheneighboringempireswhohadinvadedFrance, tryingtorestorethemonarchyandpreventthespreadoflibertyacrossEurope, twicebythetimeNapoléontookcharge. HavingdefendedFranceas a soldierand a generalinthosewars, heknewthatthebestdefenseis a goodoffense."
NapoléonseeminglyunstoppablemomentumwoulddieintheRussianwintersnows, alongwithmostofhisarmy. Butevenafterbeingdeposedandexiled, herefusedtogiveup, escapingfromhisprisonandlaunching a boldattemptatrestoringhisempirebeforebeingdefeatedforthesecondandfinaltime.
ナポレオンは一見止められない勢いでロシアの冬の雪の中で死んでしまう。彼の軍隊の大部分と一緒に
Bonapartewas a rulerfullofcontradictions, defending a popularrevolutionbyimposingabsolutedictatorship, andspreadingliberalidealsthroughimperialwars, andthoughheneverachievedhisdreamofconqueringEurope, heundoubtedlylefthismarkonit, forbetterorforworse.