Horatio Nelson (1758 – 1805)
British naval officer.
If a man consults whether he is to fight, when he has the power in his own hands, it is certain that his opinion is against fighting.
Let me alone: I have yet my legs and one arm. Tell the surgeon to make haste and his instruments. I know I must lose my right arm, so the sooner it's off the better.
Let the country mourn their hero; I grieve for the loss of the most fascinating companion I ever conversed with— the greatest and most simple of men— one of the nicest and most innocent— interesting beyond all, on shore, in public and even in private life. Men are not always themselves and put on their behaviour with their clothes, but if you live with a man on board a ship for years; if you are continually with him in his cabin, your mind will soon find out how to appreciate him. I could for ever tell you the qualities of this beloved man. I have not shed a tear for years before the 21st of October and since, whenever alone, I am quite like a child.
This is too warm work, Hardy, to last long.
When I am without orders and unexpected occurrences arrive I shall always act as I think the honour and glory of my King and Country demand. But in case signals can neither be seen or perfectly understood, no captain can do very wrong if he places his ship alongside that of the enemy.
Drink, drink. Fan, fan. Rub, rub.
Duty is the great business of a sea officer; all private considerations must give way to it, however painful it may be.
...When he was on the eve of departure for one of his great expeditions the coachmaker said to him, "The carriage shall be at the door punctually at six o clock"; "A quarter before," said Nelson. "I have always been a quarter of an hour before my time and it has made a man of me."
To leave off action"? Well, damn me if I do! You know, Foley, I have only one eye,— I have a right to be blind sometimes . . . I really do not see the signal!
The Neapolitan officers did not lose much honour, for God knows they had not much to lose - but they lost all they had.
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.
Desperate affairs require desperate measures.
Something must be left to chance; nothing is sure in a sea fight above all.
If I had been censured every time I have run my ship, or fleets under my command, into great danger, I should have long ago been out of the Service and never in the House of Peers.
The bravest man feels an anxiety 'circa praecordia' as he enters the battle; but he dreads disgrace yet more.
There are three things, young gentlemen, which you are constantly to bear in mind. Firstly, you must always implicitly obey orders, without attempting to form any opinion of your own respecting their propriety. Secondly, you must consider every man your enemy who speaks ill of your king; and thirdly, you must hate a Frenchman, as you do the devil.
First gain the victory and then make the best use of it you can.
Thank God, I have done my duty.
Bonaparte has often made his boast, that our fleet would be worn out by keeping the sea, that his was kept in order, and increasing, by staying in port; but he now finds, I fancy, if emperors hear truth, that his fleet suffers more in a night, than ours in one year; however, thank God, the Toulon fleet is got in order again, and I hear the troops embarked, and I hope they will come out to sea in fine weather.
It is nonsense, Mr. Burke, to suppose I can live. My sufferings are great but they will soon be over.