1st Duke of Wellington (1769 – 1852)
Anglo-Irish soldier and statesman.
The only thing I am afraid of is fear.
If a gentleman happens to be born in a stable, it does not follow that he should be called a horse.
The French system of conscription brings together a fair sample of all classes; ours is composed of the scum of the earth — the mere scum of the earth. It is only wonderful that we should be able to make so much out of them afterwards.
Mistaken for me, is he? That's strange, for no one ever mistakes me for Mr. Jones.
I never saw so many shocking bad hats in my life.
Uxbridge: By God, sir, I've lost my leg!
Wellington: By God, sir, so you have!
I used to say of him that his presence on the field made the difference of forty thousand men.
Up Guards and at them again.
The history of a battle, is not unlike the history of a ball. Some individuals may recollect all the little events of which the great result is the battle won or lost, but no individual can recollect the order in which, or the exact moment at which, they occurred, which makes all the difference as to their value or importance. ..
I have no small talk and Peel has no manners.
If you believe that you will believe anything.
I don't know what effect these men will have on the enemy, but by God, they terrify me.
[I don't] care a twopenny damn what [becomes] of the ashes of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Summoning the Duke of Richmond, who was to have command of the reserve when formed, he asked for a map. The two withdrew to an adjoining room. Wellington closed the door, and said, with an oath, "Napoleon has humbugged me." He then explained that he had ordered his army to concentrate at Quatre Bras, adding, "But we shall not stop him there; and if so, I must fight him here," marking Waterloo with his thumb-nail on the map as he spoke. It was not until the next morning that he left for the front.
No, he is not an Irishman. He was born in Ireland; but being born in a stable does not make a man a horse.
I have seen their backs before, madam.