Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington Quotes
35 Sourced Quotes
I don't know what effect these men will have upon the enemy, but, by God, they frighten me.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
I used to say of him [Napoleon] that his presence on the field made the difference of forty thousand men.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Ours [our army] is composed of the scum of the earth—the mere scum of the earth.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Believe me that every man you see in a military uniform is not a hero.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
I don't care a twopenny damn what becomes of the ashes of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Nothing the people of this country like so much as to see their great men take part in their amusements. The aristocracy will commit a great error if they ever fail to mix freely with their neighbours.
On foxhunting
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
I am not only not prepared to bring forward any measure of this nature, but I will at once declare that, as far as I am concerned, as long as I hold any station in the Government of the country, I shall always feel it my duty to resist such measures when proposed by others.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
My rule always was to do the business of the day in the day.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
The battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
When stopped by a gang demanding that he should declare loyalty for his wife Caroline of Brunswick:
God Save the Queen, and may all your wives be like her!Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
We have in the service the scum of the earth as common soldiers.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
I have got an infamous army, very weak and ill-equipped, and a very inexperienced staff.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Next to a battle lost, the greatest misery is a battle gained.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
During the Peninsula War, I heard a Portuguese general address his troops before a battle with the words, "Remember men, you are Portuguese!"
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
I mistrust the judgment of every man in a case in which his own wishes are concerned.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Of troops sent to fight in the War of 1812:
They wanted this iron fist to command them.Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Mistaken for me, is he? That's strange, for no one ever mistakes me for Mr. Jones.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
As Lord Chesterfield said of the generals of his day, 'I only hope that when the enemy reads the list of their names, he trembles as I do.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
A conquerer, like a cannonball, must go on; if he rebounds, his career is over.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
After his first Cabinet meeting as the British Prime Minister:
An extraordinary affair. I gave them their orders and they wanted to stay and discuss them.Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Napoleon has humbugged me, by God; he has gained twenty-four hours' march on me.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
On trying to write about the Battle of Watterloo:
Write the history of a battle? As well write the history of a ball!Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
You must build your House of Parliament upon the river…the populace cannot exact their demands by sitting down round you.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
I acknowledge that I should not like to see again such loss as I sustained on
the 23rd September, even if attended by such a gain.
the 23rd September, even if attended by such a gain.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Just to show you how little reliance can be placed even on what are supposed the best accounts of a battle, I mention that there are some circumstances mentioned in General —'s account which did not occur as he relates them. It is impossible to say when each important occurrence took place, or in what order.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Uxbridge: By God, sir, I've lost my leg!
Wellington: By God, sir, so you have!
Wellington: By God, sir, so you have!
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
The history of a battle, is not unlike the history of a ball. Some individuals may recollect all the little events of which the great result is the battle won or lost, but no individual can recollect the order in which, or the exact moment at which, they occurred, which makes all the difference as to their value or importance...
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Trust nothing to the enthusiasm of the people. Give them a strong and a just, and, if possible, a good, government; but, above all, a strong one.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
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