Horatio Nelson Quotes

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.

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.

England expects every Man will do his Duty.

My greatest happiness is to serve my gracious King and Country and I am envious only of glory; for if it be a sin to covet glory I am the most offending soul alive.

Thank God, I have done my duty.

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.

I had rather suffer death than alarm Mrs. Freemantle, by letting her see me in this state, when I can give her no tidings whatever of her husband.

In honour I gained them, and in honour I will die with them.

Success, I trust — indeed have little doubt — will crown our zealous and well-meant endeavours: if not, our Country will, I believe, sooner forgive an Officer for attacking his Enemy than for letting it alone.

Fear? I never saw fear. What is it? It never came near me.

Time is everything; five minutes make the difference between victory and defeat.

Duty is the great business of a sea officer; all private considerations must give way to it, however painful it may be.

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.

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!

I am myself a Norfolk man.