Brilliant Opportunist

Napoleon at balcony addressing the crowds

The advance toward Paris continued in an atmosphere of general jubilation.  At every stop Napoleon harangued assemblies of local people, adapting the tone of his address to suit the tastes of his varied audiences.  To countrymen he promised security of land and tenure; to townsfolk he guaranteed fiscal reform; to everybody he spoke of peace and prosperity.  Napoleon was at all times a brilliant opportunist.

~ D. Chandler, The Campaings of Napoleon page 1012