John Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher Quotes

Can the Army win the war before the Navy loses it?

The 3 Requisites for Success - Ruthless, Relentless, Remorseless (The 3 R's)

It is an historical fact that the British Navy stubbornly resists change.

Even a man's faults may reflect his virtues.

Length of course depends on the stupidity of the class...

We are an Island. Every soldier that wants to go anywhere out of England - a sailor has got to carry him there on his back.

The Frontiers of England are the Coasts of the Enemy.

When by-and-by the Chinese know their power, they hae only to walk slowly westwards and, like the locusts in Egypt, no Pharaohs in Europe with all their mighty boats will stop them. They won't want to fire guns or bombs. They'll just all walk along and smother Europe. (Richard Hough, First Sea Lord, p. 35)

I went the whole hog, totus porcus.

...and you may sleep quietly in your beds.

...Jellicoe had all the Nelsonic attributes except one - he is totally wanting in the great gift of Insubordination. Nelson's greatest achievements were all solely due to his disobeying orders!..... Any fool can obey orders! But it required a Nelson to disobey Sir John Jervis at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, to disregard the order to retire at Copenhagen, to go into the Battle of the Nile by night with no charts against orders, and, to crown all, to enter into the Battle of Trafalgar in a battle formation contrary to all the Sea orders of the time! BLESS HIM! Alas! Jellicoe is saturated with Discipline!

We want brave men! ANY BLOODY FOOL CAN OBEY ORDERS!

I know that without some fervour in the love of Christ, religion cannot be to you savoury, nor any work of goodness can be delectable, but every virtuous deed shall seem laborious and painful. For love maketh every work appear easy and pleasant, though it be right displeasant of itself. And contrariwise right easy labour appeareth grievous and painful, when the soul of the person that doeth the deed hath no desire nor love in doing of it. This thing may well appear by the life of hunters, the which out of doubt is more laborious and painful than is the life of religious persons, and yet nothing sustaineth them in their labour and pains but the earnest love and hearty desire to find their game.

The Essence of War is Violence. Moderation in War is Imbecility.

"Tact" is insulting a man without his knowing it.