Alexander Kent > Quotes

“Bloody bullocks, beggin' your pardon, gentlemen, but they'd take the wooden leg off a cripple to kindle a fire!”
― Alexander Kent, A Tradition Of Victory

“Home had a new meaning now. Jago watched him, and was satisfied. Like”
― Alexander Kent, Relentless Pursuit

“Pride of friend or enemy did not need any words.”
― Alexander Kent, Colours Aloft!: The Richard Bolitho Novels

“One place like another. That was true enough, he thought. Even the merchant seamen were the same. Every ship was the last. One more voyage, just enough pay and bounty saved, and it would be used to buy a little alehouse, a chandlery, a smallholding from some country squire. But it never seemed to happen, unless the man was thrown on the beach in peacetime, or rejected as a useless cripple. The sea always won in the end. The”
― Alexander Kent, In Gallant Company

“He wished those at home who took such people for granted could see them now. They did not care about the cause or the reason, and none had come to this place of his own free will. They fought like lions, for each other, for the ship around them. It was their world. It was enough.”
― Alexander Kent, Colours Aloft!: The Richard Bolitho Novels

“was an officer's fault for losing his own head, or not being able to find the right words in the teeth of a raging gale.”
― Alexander Kent, Command a King's Ship

“Bolitho shook his head. "The enemy's weakness does not lie in his ships, or in his courage either. It is leadership. Two-thirds of their trained and experienced officers were butchered in the Terror. And they'll not regain their confidence while they are bottled up in harbour by our blockade." He knew Draffen was deliberately drawing him out but continued, "Each time they break out and engage our squadrons they learn a little more, grow steadily more confident, even if a sea victory is denied them. Blockade is no longer the answer, in my opinion. It hurts the innocent as much as those for whom it is intended. Clearcut, decisive action is the solution. Hit the enemy whenever and wherever you can, the size of the actions is almost immaterial.”
― Alexander Kent, The Flag Captain

“As John Paul Jones said under very similar circumstances, `If we cannot have what we like, we must learn to like what we have!”
― Alexander Kent, The Flag Captain

“the”
― Alexander Kent, In Gallant Company

“If the first moment of the day fails to stir you, you are no longer fit to command.”
― Alexander Kent, Heart of Oak

“It’s aft the most honour may be, but forrard you finds the better men.”
― Alexander Kent, The Only Victor (The Bolitho Novels, 0 Book 18)

“The old Jack’s yardstick: if it moves, salute it! If it doesn’t, paint it!”
― Alexander Kent, In the King's Name (The Bolitho Novels (28))

“under our own protection. That was”
― Alexander Kent, Success to the Brave

“Senseless brutality had no place in the proper maintenance of order and discipline.”
― Alexander Kent, Form Line of Battle!: The Richard Bolitho Novels

“They didn’t question the rights or wrongs of being here. Their lives were the ship, and one another. It was a pity many in high authority did not remember that.”
― Alexander Kent, Heart of Oak

“Often you told me that responsibility and authority are privileges, not the rights of every man for the taking.”
― Alexander Kent, Enemy in Sight

“should have been in Parliament, Allday.” Allday put down his empty glass. He had never seen him in quite this mood before, “I’m too honest, sir.”
― Alexander Kent, Success to the Brave: The Richard Bolitho Novels

“Sail forth-steer for the deep waters only, Reckless 0 soul, exploring, I with thee, and thou with me, For we are bound where mariner has not yet dared to go, And we will risk the ship, ourselves and all.
-WALT WHITMAN
I 'DECISIONS
VICE-ADMIRAL”
― Alexander Kent, Sword of Honour

“We commend unto Thy hands of mercy, most merciful Father, the souls of these our brothers departed, and we commit their bodies to the deep.”
― Alexander Kent, In the King's Name (The Bolitho Novels (28))

“Only the brave lie here.”
― Alexander Kent, Sloop of War

“Bolitho despised captains who used authority without consideration for the misery it might entail, who meted out savage punishment without getting to the root of the trouble and thereby avoiding it.”
― Alexander Kent, Command a King's Ship

“To use power as a tyrant was to be without honour. To be without honour was to be less than a man.”
― Alexander Kent, To Glory We Steer

“they fought for each other, not some plan from high authority.”
― Alexander Kent, The Inshore Squadron: The Richard Bolitho Novels (The Bolitho Novels Book 13)

“That the gods never concern themselves with the protection of the innocent, only with the punishment of the guilty.”
― Alexander Kent, Cross of St George (The Bolitho Novels Book 22)

“It seems to be law inflexible and inexorable that he who will not risk cannot win.
JOHN PAUL JONES”
― Alexander Kent, Sloop of War

“I never tire of this moment.” Together they watched the first glimpse of sunlight as it rimmed the horizon like a fine gold wire.”
― Alexander Kent, Honour This Day

“Remember this”
― Alexander Kent, In Gallant Company

“More sins have been committed by the church than any seaman,”
― Alexander Kent, A Tradition of Victory

“It’s men, not ships, sir.”
― Alexander Kent, Colours Aloft!: The Richard Bolitho Novels

“fears”
― Alexander Kent, Command a King's Ship