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Here is something that Napoleon remarked to his “soft” brother, Jerome. They are rather interesting words of motivation.
I have seen an order of the day emanating from you which has made you the laughingstock of the whole of Germany, Austria, and France. Have you not some friend, near you who can tell you a few truths? You are a King and a Brother of the Emperor: qualities which are simply ridiculous in war. You have to be a soldier, first, next, and all the time; you have to camp in the front line, be in the saddle day and night; or else remain in you seraglio. You fight like a satrap.... Was it from me that you learned this? From me who, with an army of 200,000 men, am always at the head of my skirmishers. You have plent of pretensions, a little wit, a few good qualities, but all spoiled by foolishness and extreme presumption, and you have no knowledge of things. Fight like a young soldier who needs glory and reputation, and try to merit the rank you have attained.
They are pretty blunt words of truth. Sometimes that is what it takes to motivate people. I have on occasion said things in much the same tone to soldiers who worked for me.
Some Napoleon quotations I remember:"It is better to be the eater than the eaten.""Shit in silk stockings." A reference to Talleyrand.Off topic -- Mirabeau said of Talleyrand: "He would sell his soul for a pile of dung, and be right to do so." One may apply that to certain contemporary politicians as well.
