Final answer:
Napoleon said that his continued conquests and victories were what made him what he was and could keep him in power. His rise was due to his military successes and charismatic leadership, although his imperial rule deviated significantly from democratic principles, showing his megalomaniac pursuit of personal power.
Step-by-step explanation:
Napoleon Bonaparte is known to have said that his continued conquests and victories were the only things that made him what he was and could keep him there. Napoleon's many military successes and charismatic leadership style earned him immense loyalty from his troops and the French populace, but he was well aware that his rule depended on this constant stream of triumphs to maintain his position of authority.
Originating from a minor Corsican noble family, Napoleon's rise to prominence came as a direct result of the opportunities provided by the revolutionary armies. His stance as a reformer and protector of France's borders in the early years was followed by an evidently unstoppable impulse for expansion leading to the creation of a vast empire. This signaled a shift from the revolutionary ideals towards an absolutist regime.
Despite portraying himself as aligned with the revolutionary principles of reason and efficiency, Napoleon's methods of ruling betrayed a lack of democratic impulse, characterized by nepotism and draconian control over the empire. His personal ambition overruled the desires and freedoms of the people he governed, showcasing the traits of a megalomaniac driven by the urge for personal power.