---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It follows then as certain as that night…"
description: "\"It follows then as certain as that night succeeds the day, that without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive, and with it, everything ho..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/george-washington-257_can-do_it-follows-then-as-certain-as-that-night_1622667.jpg"
---

#  It follows then as certain as that night succeeds the day…

![“It follows then as certain as that night succeeds the day, that without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive, and with it, everything honorable and glorious.” quote by George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/george-washington-257_can-do_it-follows-then-as-certain-as-that-night_1622667.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/george-washington-257_can-do_it-follows-then-as-certain-as-that-night_1622667.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/george-washington-257_can-do_it-follows-then-as-certain-as-that-night_1622667.jpg)

> “It follows then as certain as that night succeeds the day, that without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive, and with it, everything honorable and glorious.”

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A statement emphasizing that decisive naval power is essential for achieving honorable and glorious outcomes, while its absence leads to impotence.

**In simple terms:** Naval strength is crucial for decisive, honorable action.

Key Takeaway

Invest in strong naval forces.

Themes

military leadership strategy honor

Mood

determined reflective

Type

historical strategic

When to use this quote

- defense planning
- policy making
- historical analysis

Key Concepts

naval power deterrence geopolitics

Questions to Reflect On

- How does naval dominance shape national destiny?
- What alternatives exist when naval power is limited?

A Different Perspective

Overreliance on naval power may neglect other domains.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Day Decisive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-decisive-294560/) [Decisive Naval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisive-naval-294558/) [Definitive Honorable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definitive-honorable-294562/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Glorious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glorious/) [Honorable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honorable/) [Honorable Glorious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honorable-glorious-294561/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Naval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naval/) [Navy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/navy/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Night Succeeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night-succeeds-294559/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [United states navy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states-navy/)

## Related quotes

> [Without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/without-a-decisive-naval-force-we-can-do-nothing-definitive/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [If it was so honorable and glorious to be black, why was it the yellow-skinned people among us had so much prestige?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/if-it-was-so-honorable-and-glorious-to-be-black-why-was-it-the-yellow/)

[Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/)

> [“But what after all, is one night? A short space, especially when the darkness dims so soon, and so soon a bird sings, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/but-what-after-all-is-one-night-a-short-space-especially-when-the-2/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [A good Navy is not a provocation to war. It is the surest guaranty of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/a-good-navy-is-not-a-provocation-to-war-it-is-the-surest-guaranty-of/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [I've received many honors and I'm grateful for them; but I've already received the highest award I'll ever receive, and that has been the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-hopper/i-ve-received-many-honors-and-i-m-grateful-for-them-but-i-ve-already/)

[Grace Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-hopper/)

> [I have an honorable discharge from the United States Navy. Hillary Clinton don't have one. Bill Clinton don't have one. Trump don't have one.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/i-have-an-honorable-discharge-from-the-united-states-navy-hillary/)

[Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/)

> [...without a Respectable Navy, Alas America!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-jones/without-a-respectable-navy-alas-america/)

[John Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-jones/)

> [A powerful Navy we have always regarded as our proper and natural means of defense; and it has always been of defense that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/a-powerful-navy-we-have-always-regarded-as-our-proper-and-natural/)

[Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/)

> [The United States Navy carries the might and the mission of America to the farthest parts of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-united-states-navy-carries-the-might-and-the-mission-of-america/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [You may fire when you are ready Gridley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-dewey/you-may-fire-when-you-are-ready-gridley/)

[George Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-dewey/)

> [“After the Second World War, San Francisco was the main point of re-entry for sailors returning from the Pacific. Out at sea, many of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/after-the-second-world-war-san-francisco-was-the-main-point-of-re/)

[Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/)

> [\*\*\*\* the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-farragut/the-torpedoes-full-speed-ahead/)

[David Farragut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-farragut/)

> [The United States Navy is of critical importance to the defense of this country and to maintaining freedom of the seas internationally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/the-united-states-navy-is-of-critical-importance-to-the-defense-of/)

[Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/)

> [The battle of Iwo Island has been won. The United States Marines by their individual and collective courage have conquered a base which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/the-battle-of-iwo-island-has-been-won-the-united-states-marines-by/)

[Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/)

> [“On November 2, 1899, eight members of the United States Navy were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism and service beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-the-exciting-story-of-cuba/on-november-2-1899-eight-members-of-the-united-states-navy-were/)

[Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/captain-hank-bracker-the-exciting-story-of-cuba/)

## More by George Washington

> [It is absolutely necessary... for me to have persons that can think for me, as well as execute orders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-absolutely-necessary-for-me-to-have-persons-that-can-think-for/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [The whole duty of man is summed up in obedience to God's will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-whole-duty-of-man-is-summed-up-in-obedience-to-god-s-will/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [The turning points of lives are not the great moments. The real crises are often concealed in occurrences so trivial in appearance that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-turning-points-of-lives-are-not-the-great-moments-the-real-crises/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [The propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-propitious-smiles-of-heaven-can-never-be-expected-on-a-nation/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/interwoven-as-is-the-love-of-liberty-with-every-ligament-of-your/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/in-vain-would-that-man-claim-the-tribute-of-patriotism-who-should/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [The blessed Religion revealed in the word of God will remain an eternal and awful monument to prove that the best Institution may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-blessed-religion-revealed-in-the-word-of-god-will-remain-an/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [While we are contending for our own liberty, we should be very cautious not to violate the conscience of others, ever considering that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/while-we-are-contending-for-our-own-liberty-we-should-be-very/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [Among many other weighty objections to the Measure, it has been suggested, that it has a tendency to introduce religious disputes into the Army,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/among-many-other-weighty-objections-to-the-measure-it-has-been/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [Democratical States must always feel before they can see: it is this that makes their Governments slow, but the people will be right at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/democratical-states-must-always-feel-before-they-can-see-it-is-this/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/if-in-the-opinion-of-the-people-the-distribution-or-modification-of/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [A man's intentions should be allowed in some respects to plead for his actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/a-man-s-intentions-should-be-allowed-in-some-respects-to-plead-for/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible. Do not ever let anyone claim to be a true American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-impossible-to-rightly-govern-the-world-without-god-and-the/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [My first wish is to see this plague of mankind banished from the earth, and the sons and daughters of this world employed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/my-first-wish-is-to-see-this-plague-of-mankind-banished-from-the/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [Lenity will operate with greater force, in some instances, than rigor. It is, therefore, my first wish, to have my whole conduct distinguished by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/lenity-will-operate-with-greater-force-in-some-instances-than-rigor/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

[Explore all 801 George Washington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

## More Can do quotes

> [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/)

[Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/)

> [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/)

[Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/)

> [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/)

[Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/)

> [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/)

[Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/)

> [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/)

[Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

> [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/)

[John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/)

> [If people don't have their own vision, all they can do is 'sign-up' for someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/if-people-don-t-have-their-own-vision-all-they-can-do-is-sign-up-for/)

[Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/)

> [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [...what I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with the people I love through the fear and the mess. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/what-i-can-do-is-offer-myself-wholehearted-and-present-to-walk-with/)

[Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/)

> [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/)

[Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/)

> [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/)

[Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/)

> [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/)

[James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/)

> [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [I'm not an educated man. I only know what I'm told, and I'm not told that much; I have no frame of reference for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-m-not-an-educated-man-i-only-know-what-i-m-told-and-i-m-not-told/)

[Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/)

[Browse all 5,673 Can do quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It follows then as certain as that night succeeds the day, that without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive, and with it, everything honorable and glorious.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George Washington"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-follows-then-as-certain-as-that-night-succeeds-the-day-that/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Can do"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-follows-then-as-certain-as-that-night-succeeds-the-day-that/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/george-washington-257_can-do_it-follows-then-as-certain-as-that-night_1622667.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/george-washington-257_can-do_it-follows-then-as-certain-as-that-night_1622667.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/george-washington-257_can-do_it-follows-then-as-certain-as-that-night_1622667.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It follows then as certain as that night succeeds the day, that without a decisive naval force we can do…” — George Washington",
                "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": "George Washington",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It follows then as certain as...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-follows-then-as-certain-as-that-night-succeeds-the-day-that/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-follows-then-as-certain-as-that-night-succeeds-the-day-that/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
