How Did Napoleon Make Decisions?

David Senra, reading The Mind of Napoleon, says Napoleon made decisions by exaggerating every danger while planning, then dropping the doubt once he chose. There is no man more timid than Napoleon when he is planning a campaign. He purposely exaggerates all the dangers and all the calamities the circumstances make possible. He is in a thoroughly painful state of agitation, and he still looks serene in front of his entourage.

Once he has made up his mind, everything is forgotten except what leads to success. Senra reads that sentence twice. Senra's summary of the passage is careful, even timid, while planning, then bold and relentless after the choice. Just before that, the book distinguishes Frederick the Great by boldness rather than by the cleverness of his moves. The boldness is not carelessness. It starts only after the downside has already been exaggerated on purpose.