Bird Quote by Alfred Thayer Mahan
“Having therefore no foreign establishments, either colonial or military, the ships of war of the United States, in war, will be like land birds, unable to fly far from their own shores. To provide resting places for them, where they can coal and repair, would be one of the first duties of a government proposing to itself the development of the power of the nation at sea.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1890
A nation without overseas bases limits its navy to coastal defense, hindering global reach.
In simple terms: No overseas bases = limited naval power.
Key Takeaway
Invest in strategic overseas facilities.
Themes
naval strategy
geopolitics
national security
Mood
strategic
analytical
Type
historical
policy
When to use this quote
- coastal defense planning
- naval expansion
- foreign policy
- maritime trade routes
Key Concepts
sea power
logistics
deterrence
Questions to Reflect On
- How would you balance coastal defense with overseas presence?
- What risks arise from lacking foreign naval stations?
A Different Perspective
Relying solely on coastal bases may invite vulnerability to blockades.
![“Any government has as much of a duty to avoid war as a ship's captain has to avoid a shipwreck." [ On Water ]” quote by Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/306/guy-de-maupassant-1364_duties_any-government-has-as-much-of-a-duty-to_1602735.jpg)
