I have always been a quarter of an hour before my time and it has made a man of me.

Gentlemen, when the enemy is committed to a mistake we must not interrupt him too soon.

Thank God, I have done my duty. Among his final dying words.

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 (2 April 1801)

Before this time tomorrow I shall have gained a peerage, or Westminister Abbey. Before the battle of the Nile (August 1, 1797)

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

I could not tread these perilous paths in safety, if I did not keep a saving sense of humor.

Desperate affairs require desperate measures.

England expects that every man will do his duty. A signal to the British fleet before the battle of Trafalgar.

May the Great God, whom I worship, grant to my Country and for the benefit of Europe in general a great and glorious victory; and may no misconduct in anyone tarnish it; and may humanity after Victory be the predominant feature of the British fleet. For myself, individually, I commit my life to Him who made me, and may His blessing light upon my endeavours for serving my Country faithfully. To Him I resign myself and the just cause which is entrusted to me to defend. Amen. Amen. Amen. A diary entry on the eve of the battle of Trafalgar.

I have only one eye,— I have a right to be blind sometimes . . . I really do not see the signal! At the battle of Copenhagen, Ignoring Admiral Parker's signal to retreat, holding his telescope up to his blind eye, and proceeding to victory against the Danish fleet. (2 April 1801)

My character and good name are in my own keeping. Life with disgrace is dreadful. A glorious death is to be envied. March 10, 1795

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. To a midshipman aboard the Agamemnon (1793)

Recollect that you must be a seaman to be an officer and also that you cannot be a good officer without being a gentleman.

I cannot command winds and weather.

It is nonsense, Mr. Burke, to suppose I can live. My sufferings are great but they will soon be over.

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.

Something must be left to chance; nothing is sure in a sea fight above all. Before the battle of Trafalgar.

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

In honour I gained them, and in honour I will die with them. When asked to cover the stars on his uniform to hide his rank during battle.

Victory or Westminister Abbey. In the battle off Cape Vincent, giving order for boarding the San Josef.

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. Statement (March 1805)

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. Letter to his mistress, Lady Hamilton, 1800

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. 1797