Top 10 Quotes by Isoroku Yamamoto

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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