When I follow my own head, I am, in general, much more correct in my judgment than following the opinion of others.
— Horatio Nelson
Our country will, I believe, sooner forgive an officer for attacking an enemy than for letting it alone.
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.
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. - at the Battle of Copenhagen.
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.
I cannot command winds and weather.
First gain the victory and then make the best use of it you can.
Buonaparte has often made his boast that our fleet would be worn out by keeping the sea and that his was kept in order and increasing by staying in port; but know he finds, I fancy, if Emperors hear the truth, that his fleet suffers more in a night than ours in one year.
I could not tread these perilous paths in safety, if I did not keep a saving sense of humor.
Treat every Frenchman as if he was the devil himself.
Now I can do no more. We must trust to the Great Disposer of all events and the justice of our cause. I thank God for this opportunity of doing my duty.
My character and good name are in my own keeping. Life with disgrace is dreadful. A glorious death is to be envied.
In honour I gained them, and in honour I will die with them.
I have only one eye, I have a right to be blind sometimes... I really do not see the signal!
Gentlemen, when the enemy is committed to a mistake we must not interrupt him too soon.
Duty is the great business of a sea officer; all private considerations must give way to it, however painful it may be.
England expects that every man will do his duty.
Time is everything; five minutes make the difference between victory and defeat.
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.
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.
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.
I cannot, if I am in the field of glory, be kept out of sight: wherever there is anything to be done, there Providence is sure to direct my steps.
Firstly you must always implicitly obey orders, without attempting to form any opinion of your own regarding 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 hate the devil.
Desperate affairs require desperate measures.
No captain can do very wrong if he places his ship alongside that of the enemy.
