Quotes by John Paul Jones

“I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harms way”

“I have not yet begun to fight!”

“It is by no means enough that an officer be capable...He should be a gentleman of liberal education, refined, manners, punctilious courtesy, and the nicest sense of personal honor... No meritorious act of a subordinate should escape his attention, even if the reward be only one word of approval. Conversely, he should not be blind to a single fault in any subordinate.”

“It seems to be a law of nature, inflexible and inexorable, that those who will not risk cannot win.”

“If fear is cultivated it will become stronger, if faith is cultivated it will achieve mastery.”

“Should I have the good fortune to fall in with him again, Ill make a lord of him.”

“It wouldnt have taken much to just pop over, would it?”

“An honorable Peace is and always was my first wish! I can take no delight in the effusion of human Blood; but, if this War should continue, I wish to have the most active part in it”

“Whoever can surprise well must Conquer”

“I have not yet begun to fight (as his ship was sinking, 23 September 1779)”

If fear is cultivated it will become stronger, if faith is cultivated it will achieve mastery.

If fear is cultivated it will become stronger if faith is cultivated it will achieve mastery.

If fear is cultivated it will become stronger. If faith is cultivated it will achieve the mastery ... faith is the stronger emotion because it is positive whereas fear is negative.

I have not yet begun to fight!

It seems to be a law of nature, inflexible and inexorable, that those who will not risk cannot win.

I have sacrificed not only my favorite scheme of life, but the softer affections of the heart, and my prospects of domestic happiness, and I am ready to sacrifice my life also, with cheerfulness, if that forfeiture could restore peace and good will among mankind.

A captain of the Navy ought to be a man of strong and well connected sense, with a tolerable good education, a gentleman, as well as a seaman both in theory and practice.

Since human wisdom cannot secure us from accidents, it is the greatest effort of reason to bear them well.