Napoleon Bonaparte said 'History is a set of lies agreed upon'. Bonaparte surrendered to the British and was exiled to the island of Saint Helena in 1815 where he died in 1821. Emmanuel, Comte de Las Cases met regularly with the ex-emperor, and he took notes of conversations. The popular work “Mémorial de Sainte Hélène: Journal of the Private Life and Conversations of Emperor Napoleon at Saint Helena” was released and translated into English in 1823.

Napoléon reportedly spoke the above adage; but, he publicly disclaimed credit. The following is a short excerpt which was contained in Emmanuel's notes: "The truth of history, so much in request, to which everybody eagerly appeals, is too often but a word. At the time of the events, during the heat of conflicting passions, it cannot exist; and if at a later period, all parties are agreed to respect it, it is because those persons who were interested in the events, those who might be able to contradict what is asserted, are no more. What then is, generally speaking, the truth of history?" The answer was then provided as a "lie" [fable] that is agreed upon. It was ingeniously remarked, "There are, in these matters, two essential points, very distinct from each other: the positive facts, and the moral intentions."

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