I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Yamamoto feared that attacking the US would provoke a powerful and determined response.
- In plain terms
- Attacking America would wake it up to fight back hard.
- What can you take from it?
- Provoking a powerful adversary can lead to overwhelming retaliation.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What are the costs of provocation?
- Is caution better than aggression?
Another view
This is a retrospective view on the outcome of the attack.
More from Isoroku Yamamoto
I would never invade the United States, there would be a gun behind every blade of grass.
Permalink to quote #3 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 continue…
Permalink to quote #2 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 m…
Permalink to quote #1
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