He Cheated at Cards

Napoleon Bonaparte was a clever general, and his reputation is that of a genius on the battlefield. Like most “geniuses,” however, there was more to his success than met the eye he was a cheat. The keen instinct he developed for finding an enemy’s weak points and exploiting every advantage was of little use during his exile on Elba, where he turned that instinct toward chronic cheating at card games he played with his companions.

According to a lady who knew him at the time: “When Napoleon was losing at cards he cheated without scruple, and all submitted with such grace as they could muster, except [his mother], who in her decided tone would say: ‘Napoleon, you are cheating.'” When things got really heated, Napoleon would sweep the money off the table and into his pockets. Usually, he gave it to his valet the next day to be returned to everyone, and another game would be scheduled for that night.