--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You mention the Navy, for example, and…" description: "\"You mention the Navy, for example, and the fact that we have fewer ships than we did in 1916. Well governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/barack-obama-17_aircraft-carriers_you-mention-the-navy-for-example-and-the_105173.jpg" --- # You mention the Navy, for example, and the fact that we… ![“You mention the Navy, for example, and the fact that we have fewer ships than we did in 1916. Well governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/barack-obama-17_aircraft-carriers_you-mention-the-navy-for-example-and-the_105173.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/barack-obama-17_aircraft-carriers_you-mention-the-navy-for-example-and-the_105173.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/barack-obama-17_aircraft-carriers_you-mention-the-navy-for-example-and-the_105173.jpg) > “You mention the Navy, for example, and the fact that we have fewer ships than we did in 1916. Well governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Modern military capabilities are measured by technology, not by the number of traditional assets like ships or horses. **In simple terms:** Tech, not quantity, defines strength. Key Takeaway Quality over quantity in defense. Themes military technology strategy Mood analytical pragmatic Type political observational When to use this quote - defense budgeting - policy debates - strategic planning Key Concepts force modernization resource allocation Practical Applications - invest in advanced systems - reassess asset counts Questions to Reflect On - What risks arise from over‑reliance on technology? - How can traditional assets complement modern capabilities? A Different Perspective Legacy forces still provide strategic flexibility in certain contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aircraft carriers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aircraft-carriers/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Gangnam style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gangnam-style/) [Governors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governors/) [Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse/) [Navy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/navy/) [Presidential election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidential-election/) ## Related quotes > [You mentioned the Navy, for example, and that we have fewer ships than we did in 1916. 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I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Aircraft carriers quotes > [You mentioned the Navy, for example, and that we have fewer ships than we did in 1916. 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For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-schiff/strangely-enough-politics-may-just-be-the-one-realm-in-which-having/) [Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-schiff/) > [American values don't begin and end with destroyers and aircraft carriers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murphy/american-values-don-t-begin-and-end-with-destroyers-and-aircraft/) [Chris Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murphy/) > [Changing the direction of a large company is like trying to turn an aircraft carrier. It takes a mile before anything happens. And if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ries/changing-the-direction-of-a-large-company-is-like-trying-to-turn-an/) [Al Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ries/) > [I'm trying to move an aircraft carrier here, I'm not just steering the speedboat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-m-trying-to-move-an-aircraft-carrier-here-i-m-not-just-steering-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Obviously I was challenged by becoming a Naval aviator, by landing aboard aircraft carriers and so on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shepard/obviously-i-was-challenged-by-becoming-a-naval-aviator-by-landing/) [Alan Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shepard/) > [America pays defense contractors to build aircraft carriers. Google pays brilliant programmers to do whatever the hell they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sloan/america-pays-defense-contractors-to-build-aircraft-carriers-google/) [Robin Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sloan/) > [Is it likely that an aircraft carrier or a cruise missile is going to find a person?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/is-it-likely-that-an-aircraft-carrier-or-a-cruise-missile-is-going-to/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [I know something about aircraft carriers for real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-know-something-about-aircraft-carriers-for-real/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Real cars were made here in America: Fords, Chevys, Plymouths. 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