Arthur Wellesley Quotes & Sayings

It is not the business of generals to shoot one another. — Arthur Wellesley

The battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton. — Arthur Wellesley

Napoleon built his campaigns of iron and when one piece broke the whole structure collapsed. I made my campaigns using rope, and if a piece broke I tied a knot — Arthur Wellesley

When one turns over in bed, it is time to turn out. — Arthur Wellesley

Nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won. — Arthur Wellesley

Next to a lost battle, nothing is so sad as a battle that has been won. — Arthur Wellesley

The only thing I am afraid of is fear. — Arthur Wellesley

Educate men without religion and you make of them but clever devils. — Arthur Wellesley

The Lord's prayer contains the sum total of religion and morals. — Arthur Wellesley

Being born in a stable does not make one a horse. — Arthur Wellesley

The whole art of war consists of guessing at what is on the other side of the hill. — Arthur Wellesley

It had been a damned nice thing - the nearest run thing you ever saw in your life. (Waterloo 18 June 1815)

'I hope to God,' he said one day,'that I have fought my last battle.It is a bad thing to be always fighting.While in the thick of it,I am much too occupied to feel anything;but it is wretched just after.It is quite impossible to think of glory.Both mind and feeling are exhausted.I am wretched even at the moment of victory,and I always say that next to a battle lost, the greatest misery is a battle gained.Not only do you lose those dear friends with whom you have been living,but you are forced to leave the wounded behind you.To be sure one tries to do the best for them,but how little that is!At such moments every feeling in your breast is deadened.I am now just beginning to retain my natural spirits,but I never wish for any more fighting. — Arthur Wellesley

I don't know what effect these men will have upon the enemy, but, by God, they frighten me. — Arthur Wellesley

Habit is ten times nature. — Arthur Wellesley

Be discreet in all things, and so render it unnecessary to be mysterious. — Arthur Wellesley

I hate the whole race. There is no believing a word they say, your professional poets, I mean there never existed a more worthless set than Byron and his friends for example. — Arthur Wellesley

When my journal appears, many statues must come down. — Arthur Wellesley