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are crowned with success。 The enemy's fleet； which subsequently did
not let a single boat pass； allows his entire army to elude it。 In
Africa a whole series of outrages are committed against the almost
unarmed inhabitants。 And the men who commit these crimes； especially
their leader； assure themselves that this is admirable； this is glory…
it resembles Caesar and Alexander the Great and is therefore good。
This ideal of glory and grandeur… which consists not merely in
considering nothing wrong that one does but in priding oneself on
every crime one commits； ascribing to it an incomprehensible
supernatural significance… that ideal； destined to guide this man
and his associates； had scope for its development in Africa。
Whatever he does succeeds。 The plague does not touch him。 The
cruelty of murdering prisoners is not imputed to him as a fault。 His
childishly rash； uncalled…for； and ignoble departure from Africa；
leaving his comrades in distress； is set down to his credit； and again
the enemy's fleet twice lets him slip past。 When； intoxicated by the
crimes he has committed so successfully； he reaches Paris； the
dissolution of the republican government； which a year earlier might
have ruined him； has reached its extreme limit； and his presence there
now as a newcomer free from party entanglements can only serve to
exalt him… and though he himself has no plan； he is quite ready for
his new role。
He had no plan； he was afraid of everything； but the parties
snatched at him and demanded his participation。
He alone… with his ideal of glory and grandeur developed in Italy
and Egypt； his insane self…adulation； his boldness in crime and
frankness in lying… he alone could justify what had to be done。
He is needed for the place that awaits him； and so almost apart from
his will and despite his indecision； his lack of a plan； and all his
mistakes； he is drawn into a conspiracy that aims at seizing power and
the conspiracy is crowned with success。
He is pushed into a meeting of the legislature。 In alarm he wishes
to flee； considering himself lost。 He pretends to fall into a swoon
and says senseless things that should have ruined him。 But the once
proud and shrewd rulers of France； feeling that their part is played
out； are even more bewildered than he； and do not say the words they
should have said to destroy him and retain their power。
Chance； millions of chances； give him power； and all men as if by
agreement co…operate to confirm that power。 Chance forms the
characters of the rulers of France； who submit to him； chance forms
the character of Paul I of Russia who recognizes his government；
chance contrives a plot against him which not only fails to harm him
but confirms his power。 Chance puts the Duc d'Enghien in his hands and
unexpectedly causes him to kill him… thereby convincing the mob more
forcibly than in any other way that he had the right； since he had the
might。 Chance contrives that though he directs all his efforts to
prepare an expedition against England （which would inevitably have
ruined him） he never carries out that intention； but unexpectedly
falls upon Mack and the Austrians； who surrender without a battle。
Chance and genius give him the victory at Austerlitz； and by chance
all men； not only the French but all Europe… except England which does
not take part in the events about to happen… despite their former
horror and detestation of his crimes； now recognize his authority； the
title he has given himself； and his ideal of grandeur and glory； which
seems excellent and reasonable to them all。
As if measuring themselves and preparing for the coming movement；
the western forces push toward the east several times in 1805； 1806；
1807； and 1809； gaining strength and growing。 In 1811 the group of
people that had formed in France unites into one group with the
peoples of Central Europe。 The strength of the justification of the
man who stands at the head of the movement grows with the increased
size of the group。 During the ten…year preparatory period this man had
formed relations with all the crowned heads of Europe。 The discredited
rulers of the world can oppose no reasonable ideal to the insensate
Napoleonic ideal of glory and grandeur。 One after another they
hasten to display their insignificance before him。 The King of Prussia
sends his wife to seek the great man's mercy； the Emperor of Austria
considers it a favor that this man receives a daughter the Caesars
into his bed； the Pope； the guardian of all that the nations hold
sacred； utilizes religion for the aggrandizement of the great man。
It is not Napoleon who prepares himself for the accomplishment of
his role； so much as all those round him who prepare him to take on
himself the whole responsibility for what is happening and has to
happen。 There is no step； no crime or petty fraud he commits； which in
the mouths of those around him is not at once represented as a great
deed。 The most suitable fete the Germans can devise for him is a
celebration of Jena and Auerstadt。 Not only is he great； but so are
his ancestors； his brothers； his stepsons； and his brothers…in…law。
Everything is done to deprive him of the remains of his reason and
to prepare him for his terrible part。 And when he is ready so too
are the forces。
The invasion pushes eastward and reaches its final goal… Moscow。
That city is taken； the Russian army suffers heavier losses than the
opposing armies had suffered in the former war from Austerlitz to
Wagram。 But suddenly instead of those chances and that genius which
hitherto had so consistently led him by an uninterrupted series of
successes to the predestined goal； an innumerable sequence of
inverse chances occur… from the cold in his head at Borodino to the
sparks which set Moscow on fire； and the frosts… and instead of
genius； stupidity and immeasurable baseness become evident。
The invaders flee； turn back； flee again； and all the chances are
now not for Napoleon but always against him。
A countermovement is then accomplished from east to west with a
remarkable resemblance to the preceding movement from west to east。
Attempted drives from east to west… similar to the contrary
movements of 1805； 1807； and 1809… precede the great westward
movement； there is the same coalescence into a group of enormous
dimensions； the same adhesion of the people of Central Europe to the
movement； the same hesitation midway； and the same increasing rapidity
as the goal is approached。
Paris； the ultimate goal； is reached。 The Napoleonic government
and army are destroyed。 Napoleon himself is no longer of any
account； all his actions are evidently pitiful and mean； but again
an inexplicable chance occurs。 The allies detest Napoleon whom they
regard as the cause of their sufferings。 Deprived of power and
authority； his crimes and his craft exposed； he should have appeared
to them what he appeared ten years previously and one year later… an
outlawed br