Horatio Nelson: Greatness

Horatio Nelson was Royal Navy Admiral. Explore interesting quotes on greatness.

Horatio Nelson: 76 quotes12 likes

“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 great opportunity of doing my Duty.”

Horatio Nelson

In response to the cheer that was raised after he sent the signal "England expects every Man will do his Duty.", as quoted in The Life of Admiral Lord Nelson, K.B. from His Lordship's Manuscripts (1810) by James Stanier Clarke and John McArthur, p. 667
The Battle of Trafalgar (1805)

“There is in the handling of these Transatlantic ships a nucleus of trouble for the Navy of Great Britain.”

Horatio Nelson

On American ships sighted sometime between 1801 and 1803, as quoted in The Royal Navy: Its Influence in English History and in the Growth of Empire https://books.google.com/books?id=mlNnAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA149 (1914) by John Leyland <br class="br">1800s

“…When he was on the eve of departure for one of his great expeditions the coachmaker said to him, "The carriage shall be at the door punctually at six o clock"; "A quarter before," said Nelson. "I have always been a quarter of an hour before my time and it has made a man of me."”

Horatio Nelson

letter from Sir Thomas Buxton to his son quoted in "Life of Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton" from Sylvanus Urban (ed.) The Gentleman's Magazine" July to December 1848, p. 577
1800s

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

Horatio Nelson

citation needed
The Battle of Trafalgar (1805)

“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.”

Horatio Nelson

Statement (March 1805) [citation needed]
1800s

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

Horatio Nelson

Letter to Frances Nisbet [citation needed]
1800s

“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.”

Horatio Nelson

Dispatches and Letters of Horatio Nelson : a diary entry on the eve of the battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar (1805)