Horatio Nelson

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.

Never break the neutrality of a port or place, but never consider as neutral any place from whence an attack is allowed to be made.

To do nothing was disgraceful; therefore I made use of my understanding.

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.

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

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

First gain the victory and then make the best use of it you can.

Laurels grow in the Bay of Biscay, I hope a bed of them may be found in the Mediterranean.

Our Country will, I believe, sooner forgive an Officer for attacking his Enemy than for letting it alone.

Something must be left to chance; nothing is certain in a sea fight

I cannot command winds and weather.

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

Desperate affairs require desperate measures.