# Why do we think of Napoleon as silly? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 10, 2008, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-think-of-napoleon-as-silly/472136 "2008-11-10T23:17:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-think-of-napoleon-as-silly/472136/21 "2008-11-11T02:37:06Z")
Napoleon was The Enemy. Of course we mocked him. We always mock our enemies. Mocking our enemies makes them less of a threat. Then many years later, we remember only the jokes, and sometimes forget why they were enemies in the first place. I forsee some poster on The Staight Dope 100 years from now asking “[Why do we think Hitler was silly](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZiRiIpZVF4)” ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-think-of-napoleon-as-silly/472136/22 "2008-11-11T02:38:20Z")
Should this be merged with the thread in GQ? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-think-of-napoleon-as-silly/472136/23 "2008-11-11T02:49:18Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Napoleon was The Enemy. Napoleon was actually more of a friendly acquaintance, of the options. He sold us tons of land and we shared a common enemy: The British. The War of 1812 was against Britain (via Canada), not Napoleonic France. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-think-of-napoleon-as-silly/472136/24 "2008-11-11T02:55:35Z")
Okay, he was OUR enemy. Your lot were buddies with him, and we had to admonish you. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-think-of-napoleon-as-silly/472136/25 "2008-11-11T02:56:33Z")
Because he was height challenged? ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-think-of-napoleon-as-silly/472136/26 "2008-11-11T02:57:19Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Should this be merged with the thread in GQ? IMHO, it’s not a factual question. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-think-of-napoleon-as-silly/472136/27 "2008-11-11T03:12:49Z")
I blame [Bugs Bunny](http://www.veoh.com/videos/v3956188Y4GH6qk9). ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-think-of-napoleon-as-silly/472136/28 "2008-11-11T03:25:41Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > If it was a little longer than 15 years ago, you might have been seeing [Earl “Madman” Muntz](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.tvacres.com/images/muntz3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.tvacres.com/admascots_madman_muntz.htm&h=352&w=256&sz=14&hl=en&start=1&um=1&usg=__d5JDKH_xKBFgNWiJjnVO1Pin9to=&tbnid=NF1cA8ykdNPRKM:&tbnh=120&tbnw=87&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmadman%2Bmuntz%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN). A kissin’ cousin of [Crazy Eddie](http://www.pimpyourshirts.com/servlet/the-1355/Vintage-Crazy-Eddie-T-dsh-Shirt/Detail) ?? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-think-of-napoleon-as-silly/472136/29 "2008-11-11T04:49:03Z")
> [@PopeJewish](#): > > Napolean was a bit short (according to Wikipedia he was 1.69 meters, which is around 5’ 2.5" 169 centimetres is closer to 5’ 6.5’'. (There are 2.54 centimetres in an inch.) ---
**Author:** ![PopeJewish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@PopeJewish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PopeJewish)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-think-of-napoleon-as-silly/472136/30 "2008-11-11T06:33:51Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > 169 centimetres is closer to 5’ 6.5’'. (There are 2.54 centimetres in an inch.) strange, I put that into google the first time and posted the results, you’re totally correct however. I blame working too damn hard at this school (and today I had to go to an elementary school and teach a demonstration lesson, in front of my principal AND the other school’s principal. Fun!) ---
**Author:** ![T\_SQUARE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@T\_SQUARE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T_SQUARE)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-think-of-napoleon-as-silly/472136/31 "2008-11-11T07:14:58Z")
> [@autz](#): > > He was a brilliant general who conquered most of the armies of Europe under the harshest of conditions. He was tough. He was creul. He was the most powerful man on earth. > > He didn’t have delusions of grandeur, he had real grandeur! Plus, he kept the Mona Lisa hanging in his bedroom and he invented sabering champagne. Or at least his calvary officers made it popular. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-think-of-napoleon-as-silly/472136/32 "2008-11-11T08:10:39Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > Because he was height challenged? He wasn’t, though. He was 5’7", which was just about the national average at the time. The angry dwarf image was a product of British propaganda of the day. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-think-of-napoleon-as-silly/472136/33 "2008-11-11T10:57:57Z")
the works of Macaulay are full of characterisations of Napoleon as the vile monster who enslaved half of Europe. But as all the people who lived through that time are long dead passions have long faded and if anyone thinks of Napoleon now, it’s of a tubby little man with one arm stuffed up his sweater saying, “Not tonight, Josephine”. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-think-of-napoleon-as-silly/472136/34 "2008-11-11T11:01:40Z")
Note: Napoleon wasn’t French; he was Corsican. Otherwise, what he said. And him. Oh, and that guy there was right on. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-think-of-napoleon-as-silly/472136/35 "2008-11-11T12:01:36Z")
Napoleon also broke The First Cardinal Rule of Warfare: _Never invade Russia in the Winter._ Napoleon didn’t have a chance to break the Second Rule of Warfare (which is not _"You do not talk about Warfare_, before anyone tries to bring Tyler Durden into this), but if he had the opportunity then I’m pretty sure Napoleon would have indeed been getting involved in Land Wars in Asia. That alone accounts for at least some of the “silly” reputation, IMHO. Napoleon was a fascinating person though, and it’s a shame people don’t really know more about him than the Funny Hat/Arm in Shirt/Short/Bad Tempered thing… ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-think-of-napoleon-as-silly/472136/36 "2008-11-11T12:48:33Z")
Why we associate lunacy with “thinking you’re Napoleon”: [Where did we get the idea crazy people think they’re Napoleon? Plus: Did tin disease contribute to Napoleon’s defeat in Russia? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2764/napoleon-complex) ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-think-of-napoleon-as-silly/472136/37 "2008-11-11T12:51:34Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Napoleon also broke The First Cardinal Rule of Warfare: > > _Never invade Russia in the Winter._ > > Napoleon didn’t have a chance to break the Second Rule of Warfare (which is not _"You do not talk about Warfare_, before anyone tries to bring Tyler Durden into this), but if he had the opportunity then I’m pretty sure Napoleon would have indeed been getting involved in Land Wars in Asia. > > That alone accounts for at least some of the “silly” reputation, IMHO. > > Napoleon was a fascinating person though, and it’s a shame people don’t really know more about him than the Funny Hat/Arm in Shirt/Short/Bad Tempered thing… I thought it was _never get involved in a land war in Asia_ ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-think-of-napoleon-as-silly/472136/38 "2008-11-11T14:23:27Z")
Well maybe he wasn’t French but he did lead them and tried to make France ruler of the world. I mean…Come On, France rule the world? In your dreams Boney ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-think-of-napoleon-as-silly/472136/39 "2008-11-11T15:22:02Z")
Although he did run roughshod over Europe there for awhile he also destroyed an entire army to no good end in Russia and then lost again at Waterloo. If he had quit while he was ahead maybe he would have had a more flattering reputation but, as he left it, the versioning of history goes to the victor and he wasn’t it. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-think-of-napoleon-as-silly/472136/40 "2008-11-11T16:16:16Z")
Pretend the fellow in [this painting](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/David-Napoleon.png&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:David-Napoleon.png&h=559&w=472&sz=465&tbnid=3KwtVAFzxY8J::&tbnh=133&tbnw=112&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddavid%2Bnapoleon&usg=__QadNRCY-aC8-E0zrIpL3Mrz53Q4=&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=1&ct=image&cd=1) said to you “Follow me or die; I am going to conquer the world.” Even Byron’s famous [“Ode to Napoleon Buonoparte”](http://www.theotherpages.org/poems/2001/byron0101.html) does not in any way render Napoleon as frivolous. Crazy. Mad. Dangerous, yes; just not silly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-think-of-napoleon-as-silly/472136.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-think-of-napoleon-as-silly/472136.md?page=3)