Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Society forgives aggressive action more than passivity when facing an enemy.
In plain terms
People forgive attacking an enemy more than ignoring them.
What can you take from it?
Action is often forgiven more than inaction.

Where it applies

  • military strategy
  • political decisions
  • crisis response

Putting it to work

  • favor proactive measures
  • prepare public messaging for action

Questions to consider

  • When is inaction considered worse than a mistake?

Another view

Unjustified attacks can destroy trust permanently.

More from Horatio Nelson

  1. Firstly you must always implicitly obey orders, without attempting to form any opinion of your own regarding their propriety. Secondly, you must consider every…

    Permalink to quote #1
  2. My character and good name are in my own keeping. Life with disgrace is dreadful. A glorious death is to be envied.

    Permalink to quote #3
  3. Let me alone: I have yet my legs and one arm. Tell the surgeon to make haste and his instruments. I know I must lose my right arm, so the sooner it's off the b…

    Permalink to quote #4

Related quotes

  1. What I said was: 'Go boldly among the English,' and I went among them, too!

    Joan of ArcJoan of Arc quote #11
  2. I hate to waste a really good threat.

    Laurell K. HamiltonLaurell K. Hamilton quote #1
  3. It is a fact that under equal conditions, large-scale battles and whole wars are won by troops which have a strong will for victory, clear goals before them, h…

    Georgy ZhukovGeorgy Zhukov quote #1