--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ... the best pilots have need of…" description: "\"... the best pilots have need of mariners, besides sails, anchor and other tackle.\" — Ben Jonson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/ben-jonson-1371_anchors_the-best-pilots-have-need-of-mariners-be_572071.png" --- # ... the best pilots have need of mariners, besides sails… ![“... the best pilots have need of mariners, besides sails, anchor and other tackle.” quote by Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/ben-jonson-1371_anchors_the-best-pilots-have-need-of-mariners-be_572071.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/ben-jonson-1371_anchors_the-best-pilots-have-need-of-mariners-be_572071.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/ben-jonson-1371_anchors_the-best-pilots-have-need-of-mariners-be_572071.png) > “... the best pilots have need of mariners, besides sails, anchor and other tackle.” [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote uses nautical metaphor to stress that pilots (leaders) need the same support and tools as sailors to navigate successfully. **In simple terms:** Leaders need proper tools and support. Key Takeaway Provide leaders with reliable resources and guidance. Themes leadership navigation support teamwork Mood thoughtful inspirational Type advice motivational When to use this quote - management training - team building - project planning - risk assessment Key Concepts metaphor role analogy Questions to Reflect On - What tools do modern leaders lack? - How can support systems be improved? A Different Perspective Overreliance on metaphor may obscure practical specifics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anchors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anchors/) [Best Pilots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-pilots-2333891/) [Mariners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mariners/) [Need Mariners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-mariners-4720063/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Pilots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pilots/) [Pilots Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pilots-need-4720062/) [Plane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plane/) [Sail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sail/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) [Ships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ships/) ## Related quotes > [He knows enough, the mariner, who knows Where lurk the shelves, and where the whirlpools boil, What signs portend the storm: to subtler minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/he-knows-enough-the-mariner-who-knows-where-lurk-the-shelves-and/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [The best pilots fly more than the others; that's why they're the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-yeager/the-best-pilots-fly-more-than-the-others-that-s-why-they-re-the-best/) [Chuck Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-yeager/) > [There is no such thing as a natural born pilot. Whatever my aptitudes or talents, becoming a proficient pilot was hard work, really a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-yeager/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-natural-born-pilot-whatever-my-aptitudes/) [Chuck Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-yeager/) > [She's decisive, she's aggressive, she's proven she's capable with high-performance jets. We look for people with the capability to think on their feet and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leestma/she-s-decisive-she-s-aggressive-she-s-proven-she-s-capable-with-high/) [David Leestma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leestma/) > [For 'Breaking Bad,' it was like, that's one of the best pilots, probably the best pilot I have ever read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-brandt/for-breaking-bad-it-was-like-that-s-one-of-the-best-pilots-probably/) [Betsy Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-brandt/) > [My experience enables me to select the very best pilots in the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/my-experience-enables-me-to-select-the-very-best-pilots-in-the-market/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [“The best pilots usually have the most unflattering nicknames. The pilots I know say they don't generally have much confidence in anyone with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-luttrell/the-best-pilots-usually-have-the-most-unflattering-nicknames-the/) [Marcus Luttrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-luttrell/) > [I think aerobatic pilots make the best pilots because you know, you're just so confident in an aeroplane. If you're gonna get into trouble,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-shepherd/i-think-aerobatic-pilots-make-the-best-pilots-because-you-know-you-re/) [Janine Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-shepherd/) > [In the pale light of daybreak the gravestones looked like so many white sails of boats anchored in a busy harbor. They were sails…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/in-the-pale-light-of-daybreak-the-gravestones-looked-like-so-many/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [Like mighty eagle soaring light. O'er antelopes on Alpine height. The anchor heaves, the ship swings free, The sails swell full. To sea, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lovell-beddoes/like-mighty-eagle-soaring-light-o-er-antelopes-on-alpine-height-the/) [Thomas Lovell Beddoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lovell-beddoes/) > [Have Jesus always for your patron, His Cross for a mast on which you must spread your resolutions as a sail. Your anchor shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-jesus-always-for-your-patron-his-cross-for-a-mast-on-which-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The Nellie, a cruising yawl, swung to her anchor without a flutter of the sails, and was at rest. The flood had made, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-nellie-a-cruising-yawl-swung-to-her-anchor-without-a-flutter-of-2/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [At last the anchor was up, the sails were set, and off we glided. It was a sharp, cold Christmas; and as the short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/at-last-the-anchor-was-up-the-sails-were-set-and-off-we-glided-it-was/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Up anchor! Up anchor! Set sail and away! The ventures of dreamland Are thine for a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-weir-mitchell/up-anchor-up-anchor-set-sail-and-away-the-ventures-of-dreamland-are/) [Silas Weir Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-weir-mitchell/) > [Each petty hand Can steer a ship becalm'd; but he that will Govern and carry her to her ends, must know His tides, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/each-petty-hand-can-steer-a-ship-becalm-d-but-he-that-will-govern-and/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) ## More by Ben Jonson > [Soul of the Age! The applause! delight! the wonder of our stage! My Shakespeare, rise; I will not lodge thee by Chaucer, or Spenser,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/soul-of-the-age-the-applause-delight-the-wonder-of-our-stage-my/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Ambition, like a torrent, never looks back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/ambition-like-a-torrent-never-looks-back/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Heaven prepares good men with crosses; but no ill can happen to a good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/heaven-prepares-good-men-with-crosses-but-no-ill-can-happen-to-a-good/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [The dignity of truth is lost with much protesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/the-dignity-of-truth-is-lost-with-much-protesting/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [True melancholy breeds your perfect fine wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/true-melancholy-breeds-your-perfect-fine-wit/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Leave a kiss but in the cup, and I'll not look for wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/leave-a-kiss-but-in-the-cup-and-i-ll-not-look-for-wine/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [All discourses but my own afflict me; they seem harsh, impertinent, and irksome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/all-discourses-but-my-own-afflict-me-they-seem-harsh-impertinent-and/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [“drink to the cause, and pure vapours”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/drink-to-the-cause-and-pure-vapours/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Spread yourself upon his bosom publicly, whose heart you would eat in private.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/spread-yourself-upon-his-bosom-publicly-whose-heart-you-would-eat-in/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [That old bald cheater, Time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/that-old-bald-cheater-time/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Rich apparel has strange virtues; it makes him that hath it without means esteemed for an excellent wit; he that enjoys it with means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/rich-apparel-has-strange-virtues-it-makes-him-that-hath-it-without/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Each petty hand Can steer a ship becalm'd; but he that will Govern and carry her to her ends, must know His tides, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/each-petty-hand-can-steer-a-ship-becalm-d-but-he-that-will-govern-and/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [The way to rise is to obey and please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/the-way-to-rise-is-to-obey-and-please/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [The covetous man never has money. The prodigal will have none shortly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/the-covetous-man-never-has-money-the-prodigal-will-have-none-shortly/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Fortune, that favors fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/fortune-that-favors-fools/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) [Explore all 249 Ben Jonson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) ## More Anchors quotes > [My identity shifted when I got into # recovery . That's who I am now, and it actually gives me greater pleasure to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/my-identity-shifted-when-i-got-into-recovery-that-s-who-i-am-now-and/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [Where it all ends I can't fathom, my friends. If I knew, I might toss out my anchor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/where-it-all-ends-i-can-t-fathom-my-friends-if-i-knew-i-might-toss/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [My mom taught me the power of love. I learned to focus on the long-term big picture from my father. His sense of humor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padmasree-warrior/my-mom-taught-me-the-power-of-love-i-learned-to-focus-on-the-long/) [Padmasree Warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padmasree-warrior/) > [The past is an anchor with suffering written on the rope. I don't live there now. I am cutting myself free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-millar/the-past-is-an-anchor-with-suffering-written-on-the-rope-i-don-t-live/) [Mark Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-millar/) > [I was born imagining myself with an apron on, with pies cooling on the window sill and babies crying upstairs. I thought that all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/i-was-born-imagining-myself-with-an-apron-on-with-pies-cooling-on-the/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [It's all still about having a good story. You have to have a good story as your anchor, as your main focus. So for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-s-all-still-about-having-a-good-story-you-have-to-have-a-good/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Women and God are the two rocks on which a man must either anchor or be wrecked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-william-robertson/women-and-god-are-the-two-rocks-on-which-a-man-must-either-anchor-or/) [Frederick William Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-william-robertson/) > [Footnote: 79) The anchor is gigantic and must weigh a hundred tons, and -- delightfully -- it really is anchor-shaped, i.e. the same shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/footnote-79-the-anchor-is-gigantic-and-must-weigh-a-hundred-tons-and/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [Up anchor! Up anchor! Set sail and away! The ventures of dreamland Are thine for a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-weir-mitchell/up-anchor-up-anchor-set-sail-and-away-the-ventures-of-dreamland-are/) [Silas Weir Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-weir-mitchell/) > [Cast all your cares on God; that anchor holds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/cast-all-your-cares-on-god-that-anchor-holds/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [I'm single, footloose and fancy free, I have no responsibilities, no anchors. Work, friendship and self-improvement, that's me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/i-m-single-footloose-and-fancy-free-i-have-no-responsibilities-no/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [I get an adrenaline rush from "playing with the big boys." I consider myself a tomboy and was an athlete in high school, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-alexander/i-get-an-adrenaline-rush-from-playing-with-the-big-boys-i-consider/) [Megan Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-alexander/) > [Ultimate hope constitutes the anchor of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/ultimate-hope-constitutes-the-anchor-of-the-soul/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Experience had quickly taught her that she could not survive the storms without the anchor of the constraining love of Christ and what she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/experience-had-quickly-taught-her-that-she-could-not-survive-the/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [Kids are anchors of mothers' life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/kids-are-anchors-of-mothers-life/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) [Browse all 358 Anchors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anchors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "... the best pilots have need of mariners, besides sails, anchor and other tackle.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Jonson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/the-best-pilots-have-need-of-mariners-besides-sails-anchor-and-other/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anchors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/the-best-pilots-have-need-of-mariners-besides-sails-anchor-and-other/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/ben-jonson-1371_anchors_the-best-pilots-have-need-of-mariners-be_572071.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/ben-jonson-1371_anchors_the-best-pilots-have-need-of-mariners-be_572071.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/ben-jonson-1371_anchors_the-best-pilots-have-need-of-mariners-be_572071.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“... the best pilots have need of mariners, besides sails, anchor and other tackle.” — Ben Jonson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ben Jonson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "... the best pilots have need...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/the-best-pilots-have-need-of-mariners-besides-sails-anchor-and-other/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/the-best-pilots-have-need-of-mariners-besides-sails-anchor-and-other/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```