Horatio Nelson Quotes

Four or five frigates will do the business without any military force.

Admiral. That part of a warship which does the talking while the figurehead does the thinking.

I wanted to do a naval film and I flirted with different ideas, most of which ended up being too intense. So when the idea of 'Battleship' was first suggested, I was instantly drawn to the challenge - could I invent a movie around the idea of five ships fighting five ships?

It is the function of the Navy to carry the war to the enemy so that it is not fought on U.S. soil.

Buonaparte has often made his boast that our fleet would be worn out by keeping the sea and that his was kept in order and increasing by staying in port; but know he finds, I fancy, if Emperors hear the truth, that his fleet suffers more in a night than ours in one year.

Anti-submarine warfare is the military version of chess. You must work out what the enemy is going to do before they even think of it.

Spare your ships, and do not risk a battle; for these people are as much superior to your people in seamanship, as men to women. What so great need is there for you to incur hazard at sea? Are you not master of Athens, for which you did undertake your expedition? Is not Hellas subject to you? Not a soul now resists your advance. They who once resisted, were handled even as they deserved.

Damn the torpedoes [i.e. mines]. Full speed ahead!

If there is war with any Barbary State, you will then distribute your force in such a manner, as your judgment shall direct, as to best to protect our commerce and chastise their insolence—by sinking, burning or destroying their ships and vessels wherever you shall find them.

Despise the enemy strategically, but take him seriously tactically.

It is warm work; and this day may be the last to any of us at a moment. But mark you! I would not be elsewhere for thousands. - at the Battle of Copenhagen.

I'm a huge fan of the Navy. My father was a Naval historian, and I've been studying Naval battles forever.

Surely the best way to meet the enemy is head on in the field and not wait till they plunder our very homes.

One thing is certain: wherever the enemy lands, if once we can get to grips with him on the Continent, where we are not dependent on supplies from overseas, that ought to be, and will be, all right with us.

By this time it was past six, and the enemy's van and ours were at too great a distance to engage, I perceived some of their ships stretching to the northward; and I imagined they were going to form a new line.

We were very fortunate that the carriers weren't in the harbor.

The fleet sailed to its war base in the North Sea, headed not so much for some rendezvous with glory as for rendezvous with discretion.

If you've ever seen the film In Which We Serve, but it was about a destroyer in the Mediterranean.

Our film examines the heroism, courage and prowess of the Soviet submarine force in ways never seen before.

Japan has always regarded the aircraft carrier as one of the most offensive of armaments.

My observations of Japanese naval fighting men, their abilities and equipment led me to believe that they gave a better account of themselves than we did.

I am very proud to be taking command of a Type 23 frigate, which is an extremely flexible warship, and I'm looking forward to taking HMS Portland on operations with a professional and focused team.

Battleships are cheaper than battles.

[Of Admiral Horatio Nelson:] To the same enthusiastic sensibilities which made a fool of him with regard to his Emma, his country owed the victories of the Nile, Copenhagen, and Trafalgar.

All Athenians should leave Athens …. The men should report to the ships at Salamis.