Isoroku Yamamoto Quotes

• In the first six to twelve months of a war with the United States and Great Britain I will run wild and win victory upon victory. But then, if the war continues after that, I have no expectation of success.

  Isoroku Yamamoto

  Running, Military, War

  "Eagle Against the Sun: The American War With Japan". Book by Ronald H. Spector, 1985.

  60 Copy quote

• A brilliant man would find a way not to fight a war.

  Isoroku Yamamoto

  War, Fighting, Men

  "Fictional character: Admiral Yamamoto". "Pearl Harbor", www.imdb.com. 2001.

  69 Copy quote

• The fiercest serpent may be overcome by a swarm of ants.

  Isoroku Yamamoto

  Overcoming, May, Ants

  Statement in opposition of the planned construction of the Yamato class battleships. "Scraps of Paper: The Disarmament Treaties Between the World Wars". Book by Harlow A. Hyde, 1988.

  69 Copy quote

• Should hostilities once break out between Japan and the United States, it is not enough that we take Guam and the Philippines, nor even Hawaii and San Francisco. To make victory certain, we would have to march into Washington and dictate the terms of peace in the White House. I wonder if our politicians, among whom armchair arguments about war are being glibly bandied about in the name of state politics, have confidence as to the final outcome and are prepared to make the necessary sacrifices.

  Isoroku Yamamoto

  War, Sacrifice, White

  "At Dawn We Slept". Book by Donald M Goldstein, Gordon Prange, and Katherine V. Dillon, 1981.

  60 Copy quote

• The fate of the Empire rests on this enterprise. Every man must devote himself totally to the task in hand.

  Isoroku Yamamoto

  Fate, Men, Hands

  49 Copy quote

• A military man can scarcely pride himself on having 'smitten a sleeping enemy'; it is more a matter of shame, simply, for the one smitten. I would rather you made your appraisal after seeing what the enemy does, since it is certain that, angered and outraged, he will soon launch a determined counterattack.

  Isoroku Yamamoto

  Military, Sleep, Pride

  Remark to to Ogata Taketora, the Editor in Chief of Asahi Shimbun, on January 09, 1942. "The Reluctant Admiral". Book by Hiroyuki Agawa, 1979.

  59 Copy quote

• The mindless rejoicing at home is really appalling; it makes me fear that the first blow against Tokyo will make them wilt at once...I only wish that [the Americans] had also had, say, three carriers at Hawaii.

  Isoroku Yamamoto

  Military, Home, Blow

  46 Copy quote

• I wonder what Heaven must think of the people down here on this small black speck in the universe that is earth, or of all their talk about the last few years-which are no more than a flash compared with eternity-being 'a time of emergency." It's really ridiculous.

  Isoroku Yamamoto

  Thinking, Years, People

  36 Copy quote

• Today, as chief Of the guardians of the seas Of the land of the dawn, I gaze up with awe At the rising sun!

  Isoroku Yamamoto

  Peace, Sea, Land

  23 Copy quote

• A military man can scarcely pride himself on having smitten a sleeping enemy; it is more a matter of shame, simply, for the one smitten.

  Isoroku Yamamoto

  Military, Sleep, Pride

  Remark to to Ogata Taketora, the Editor in Chief of Asahi Shimbun, on January 09, 1942. "The Reluctant Admiral". Book by Hiroyuki Agawa, 1979.

  23 Copy quote

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