Napoleon said; "i found the crown of france lying on the ground, and i picked it up with a sword". what does he mean

Napoleon meant that even though he wanted France desperately and that it was right in front him and there was an opening which he could have used to take it easily ("I found the crown of France lying on the ground"), he did not do that.
Instead, he used force to take it ("...and I picked it up with a sword").