Mr. Midshipman Hornblower Quotes

“Clairvoyant, Hornblower could foresee that in a year's time, the world would hardy remember the incident. In twenty years, it would be entirely forgotten. Yet those headless corpses up there in Muzillac; those shattered redcoats; those Frenchmen caught in the four-pounder's blast of canister -- they were as dead as if it had been a day in which history had been changed.”
― C.S. Forester, Mr. Midshipman Hornblower

“I thank God daily for the good fortune of my birth, for I am certain I would have made a miserable peasant.”
― C.S. Forester, Mr. Midshipman Hornblower

“His self-respect was at its lowest ebb.”
― C.S. Forester, Mr. Midshipman Hornblower

“July 4th, 1776,” mused Keene, reading Hornblower’s date of birth to himself.”
― C.S. Forester, Mr. Midshipman Hornblower

“boys are odd creatures, especially reticent ones”
― C.S. Forester, Mr. Midshipman Hornblower

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names can never hurt me, especially when I do not understand them.”
― C.S. Forester, Mr. Midshipman Hornblower

“Sir!’ said the captain again. ‘I insist that you head towards Bordeaux.’ He showed signs of advancing upon them; one of the crew behind him began to pull the boat-hook clear, and it would be a dangerous weapon. Hornblower pulled one of the pistols from his belt and pointed it at the captain, who, with the muzzle four feet from his breast, fell back before the gesture. Without taking his eyes off him Hornblower took a second pistol with his left hand. ‘Take this, Matthews,’ he said. ‘Aye aye, sir,’ said Matthews, obeying; and then, after a respectful pause, ‘Beggin’ your pardon, sir, but hadn’t you better cock your pistol, sir?”
― C.S. Forester, Mr. Midshipman Hornblower

“Harm began to come to Hornblower from that day forth, despite his obedience to orders and diligent study of his duties, and it stemmed from the arrival in the midshipmen’s berth of John Simpson as senior warrant officer.”
― C.S. Forester, Mr. Midshipman Hornblower

“Never order your men to do anything that you are not ready to do yourself.”
― C.S. Forester, Mr Midshipman Hornblower

“We have no use for ablative absolutes in the Navy.”
― Forester C. S., Mr. Midshipman Hornblower