"Lafayette is a political ninny," the eternal "dupe of men and of things."[1243] With Lafayette and some others, one embarrassing detail remains namely: * impartiality and generosity, * constant care for the common good, * respect for others, * the authority of conscience, * loyalty, * and good faith.
In short, noble and pure motives.
Napoleon does not accept the denial thus given to his theory; when he talks with people, he questions their moral nobleness.

"General Dumas,"[1244] said he, abruptly, to Mathieu Dumas, "you were one of the imbeciles who believed in liberty ?" "Yes, sire, and I was and am still one of that class." "And you, like the rest, took part in the Revolution through ambition ?" "No, sire, I should have calculated badly, for I am now precisely where I stood in 1790." "You were not sufficiently aware of the motives which prompted you; you cannot be different from other people; it is all personal interest.

Now, take Massena.

He has glory and honors enough; but he is not content.
He wants to be a prince, like Murat and like Bernadotte.

He would risk being shot to-morrow to be a prince.