Who said “A Constitution should be short and obscure.”?

Misattributed

Not Napoleon Bonaparte. It's commonly credited to them, but the evidence shows it isn't theirs.

What the research foundListed as misattributed to Napoleon Bonaparte; no source in their known works.

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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Cite this quote

APA

“A Constitution should be short and obscure.” [Quotation attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/11259-a-constitution-should-be-short-and-obscure/

MLA

“A Constitution should be short and obscure.” Attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/11259-a-constitution-should-be-short-and-obscure/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

“A Constitution should be short and obscure.” Attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/11259-a-constitution-should-be-short-and-obscure/.