"A Lucky General" Topic

I have recently received and begun reading The Wargaming Compendium (which I'm enjoying very much). In that book, and many others and articles (including historical ones) that I have read over the years, there is reference to Napoleon being reputed to have said "Is he lucky?" or "Is he a lucky general?"

Whenever I have seen this 'quote' there has never been a reference to a time and place (or context) where this was said which has always raised suspicions with me, even though I would like the quote to be true.

Can anyone provide me with some factual context for the quote? Alternatively, is there any evidence that it is a fiction and where the quote did start?

I've wanted to know the answer for this for many years and suspect that this forum may have it.

Frank McLynn in Napoleon: A Biography, claims that it is true but does not give a source.

I have never seen a source for it.

Jurgen

It's probably just me, but I don't follow the post. Is this something Napoleon is meant to have said about himself, namely "I am a lucky general" or about somebody else namely "Is he a lucky general".

The story goes that when N. would be advised of so-and-so's deeds on the battlefield and abilities as a commander, N. would then enqure: "but is he lucky?"

The idea being that N. saw luck as part of a person't make-up.

Bob

Cheers for the assistance, M C LeSingeDew, yes I have heard or read that before but cannot provide a source for it off hand.

Likewise I've seen it written a few times words to the effect he would ask "is he lucky?" about a general. I've never seen it pinned to a time or specific location.

I can't trace it to a particular source.

It sounds like something he would say though, given his ethos and worldview. I don't think he meant luck in the same way lots of people would understand it. Napoleon understood that you have to make your own luck in this world. Having all the skills, talents and opportunities won't mean much if you haven't got the right mentality.
But he was also very superstitious, so there is a sense that he meant lucky in a more conventional and fatalistic sense too.
Its a tricky quote to get your head around, the more you think about it.

I think McLynns book is one of the best out there for understanding the big picture motivations and psychology of Napoleon. I don't agree with everything he says but he understands the character of Napoleon better than most other Biographers and Historians in my opinion. He doesn't use footnotes though.

McLynn also paints an unforgettable portrait of many of the other key figures of the time. Well worth a read.

From the Napoleon Series and Stephen Smith:

Napoleon and Luck:

"Sauret: good, very good soldier; not enough education for a general; not
lucky." "Sauret: bon, très-bon soldat; pas assez éclairé pour être général; peu heureux."

link

"In war, luck is half in everything."

Napoleon : In His Own Words (1916), p.139.

link

link

But:

"I would rather have a general who was lucky than one who was good."

Nothing found.

Napoleon was lucky as hell at Marengo, that's for sure…

Flecktarn and TelesticWarrior, the McLynn books sounds very interesting, it must be difficult to attempt to get inside the mind of a genius.

Sadly, it seems that the 'lucky general' quote is a furphy.

However, I would not be surprised if it emanated from the quote regarding Sauret mentioned by McLaddie above.

Thanks TelesticWarrior and McLaddie for the book references (I've already downloaded the free ones).

All successful generals enjoy a degree of luck. If not, they would not be successful.