--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Close with a Frenchman, but out-maneuver…" description: "\"Close with a Frenchman, but out-maneuver a Russian.\" — Horatio Nelson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a4/horatio-nelson-11575_frenchmen_close-with-a-frenchman-but-out-maneuver_2568168.png" --- # Close with a Frenchman, but out-maneuver a Russian. ![“Close with a Frenchman, but out-maneuver a Russian.” quote by Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a4/horatio-nelson-11575_frenchmen_close-with-a-frenchman-but-out-maneuver_2568168.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a4/horatio-nelson-11575_frenchmen_close-with-a-frenchman-but-out-maneuver_2568168.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a4/horatio-nelson-11575_frenchmen_close-with-a-frenchman-but-out-maneuver_2568168.png) > “Close with a Frenchman, but out-maneuver a Russian.” [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Strategic success often requires out‑thinking opponents, not just matching their strength. **In simple terms:** Winning by clever tactics. Key Takeaway Prioritize strategy over brute force. Themes strategy leadership naval warfare cleverness Mood determined analytical Type strategic historical When to use this quote - Naval battles - business competition - sports matches - political negotiations Key Concepts Military tactics psychological warfare Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance bold tactics with risk? - When is direct force preferable? A Different Perspective Overreliance on cunning can backfire if opponents anticipate moves. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Close Frenchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/close-frenchman-1667114/) [Frenchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frenchman/) [Frenchman Maneuver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frenchman-maneuver-1667115/) [Frenchmen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frenchmen/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Maneuver Russian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maneuver-russian-1667116/) [Maritime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maritime/) [Naval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naval/) [Russian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russian/) ## Related quotes > [Every day I think about where I come from and I am still proud to be who I am: first, a Kabyle from La…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zinedine-zidane/every-day-i-think-about-where-i-come-from-and-i-am-still-proud-to-be/) [Zinedine Zidane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zinedine-zidane/) > [The Frenchman is first and foremost a man. He is likeable often just because of his weaknesses, which are always thoroughly human, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/the-frenchman-is-first-and-foremost-a-man-he-is-likeable-often-just/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [France is France and a grand place for Frenchman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/france-is-france-and-a-grand-place-for-frenchman/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Frenchman: Germans with good food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/frenchman-germans-with-good-food/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [A blaspheming Frenchman is a spectacle more pleasing to the Lord than a praying Englishman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/a-blaspheming-frenchman-is-a-spectacle-more-pleasing-to-the-lord-than/) [Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/) > [Only thing worse than a Frenchman is a Frenchman who lives in Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/only-thing-worse-than-a-frenchman-is-a-frenchman-who-lives-in-canada/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [... far be it from a Frenchman to interfere with love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-a-bucchianeri-2/far-be-it-from-a-frenchman-to-interfere-with-love/) [E. A. Bucchianeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-a-bucchianeri-2/) > [The Frenchman, by nature, is sensuous and sensitive. He has intelligence, which makes him tired of life sooner than other kinds of men. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/the-frenchman-by-nature-is-sensuous-and-sensitive-he-has-intelligence/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [France, like every other Western country except the United States, has long accepted the principle that comprehensive health care is the right of every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-massie/france-like-every-other-western-country-except-the-united-states-has/) [Suzanne Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-massie/) > [At war with savages and idiots. To be a Frenchman abroad is to be miserable; to be an American abroad is to make others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/at-war-with-savages-and-idiots-to-be-a-frenchman-abroad-is-to-be/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [I speak French with timidity, and not flowingly--except when excited. When using that language I have often noticed that I have hardly ever been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-speak-french-with-timidity-and-not-flowingly-except-when-excited/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [An imitation of a Frenchman would not make me a Frenchman. I am a German and I would have to be "reborn" to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-huegel/an-imitation-of-a-frenchman-would-not-make-me-a-frenchman-i-am-a/) [F. Huegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-huegel/) > [The difference between the vanity of a Frenchman and an Englishman seems to be this: the one thinks everything right that is French, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-difference-between-the-vanity-of-a-frenchman-and-an-englishman/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [I received a letter just before I left office from a man. I don't know why he chose to write it, but I'm glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-received-a-letter-just-before-i-left-office-from-a-man-i-don-t-know/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Accents are very sexy. American girls who speak French are very attractive to a Frenchman. Anything exotic or different is attractive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilles-marini/accents-are-very-sexy-american-girls-who-speak-french-are-very/) [Gilles Marini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilles-marini/) ## More by Horatio Nelson > [England expects every man to do his duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/england-expects-every-man-to-do-his-duty/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [Duty is the great business of a sea officer; all private considerations must give way to it, however painful it may be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/duty-is-the-great-business-of-a-sea-officer-all-private/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [When I came to explain to them the 'Nelson Touch', it was like an electric shock. Some shed tears, all approved - 'It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/when-i-came-to-explain-to-them-the-nelson-touch-it-was-like-an/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [Buonaparte has often made his boast that our fleet would be worn out by keeping the sea and that his was kept in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/buonaparte-has-often-made-his-boast-that-our-fleet-would-be-worn-out/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [Had we taken ten sails, and let the eleventh to escape, being able to get at her, I could never have called it well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/had-we-taken-ten-sails-and-let-the-eleventh-to-escape-being-able-to/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [Something must be left to chance; nothing is certain in a sea fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/something-must-be-left-to-chance-nothing-is-certain-in-a-sea-fight/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [The politics of courts are so mean that private people would be ashamed to act in the same way; all is trick and finesse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/the-politics-of-courts-are-so-mean-that-private-people-would-be/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [Frigates are the eyes of a fleet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/frigates-are-the-eyes-of-a-fleet/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [I am ill every time it blows hard, and nothing but my enthusiastic love for the profession keeps me one hour at sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/i-am-ill-every-time-it-blows-hard-and-nothing-but-my-enthusiastic/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [If a man consults whether he is to fight, when he has the power in his own hands, it is certain that his opinion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/if-a-man-consults-whether-he-is-to-fight-when-he-has-the-power-in-his/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [Laurels grow in the Bay of Biscay, I hope a bed of them may be found in the Mediterranean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/laurels-grow-in-the-bay-of-biscay-i-hope-a-bed-of-them-may-be-found/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [When I follow my own head, I am, in general, much more correct in my judgment than following the opinion of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/when-i-follow-my-own-head-i-am-in-general-much-more-correct-in-my/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [A ship's a fool to fight a fort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/a-ship-s-a-fool-to-fight-a-fort/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [Whoever gains the palm by merit, let him hold it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/whoever-gains-the-palm-by-merit-let-him-hold-it/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [The bravest man feels an anxiety 'circa praecordia' as he enters the battle; but he dreads disgrace yet more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/the-bravest-man-feels-an-anxiety-circa-praecordia-as-he-enters-the/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) [Explore all 59 Horatio Nelson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) ## More Frenchmen quotes > [Every day I think about where I come from and I am still proud to be who I am: first, a Kabyle from La…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zinedine-zidane/every-day-i-think-about-where-i-come-from-and-i-am-still-proud-to-be/) [Zinedine Zidane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zinedine-zidane/) > [Citizens of liberal welfare states become increasingly narcissistic. 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I don't know why he chose to write it, but I'm glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-received-a-letter-just-before-i-left-office-from-a-man-i-don-t-know/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“Our men have been real Frenchmen, and their wives--I may say it--have been worthy of them. You may see all their portraits at our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/our-men-have-been-real-frenchmen-and-their-wives-i-may-say-it-have/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [“He blushed to see other Frenchmen overcome with joy whenever they met a compatriot abroad. The would fall on each other, cluster in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bakewell/he-blushed-to-see-other-frenchmen-overcome-with-joy-whenever-they-met/) [Sarah Bakewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bakewell/) > [Of women, the most we can say, not being Frenchmen, is that they are burrowing animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-durrell/of-women-the-most-we-can-say-not-being-frenchmen-is-that-they-are/) [Lawrence Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-durrell/) > [The difference between the vanity of a Frenchman and an Englishman seems to be this: the one thinks everything right that is French, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-difference-between-the-vanity-of-a-frenchman-and-an-englishman/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [An imitation of a Frenchman would not make me a Frenchman. I am a German and I would have to be "reborn" to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-huegel/an-imitation-of-a-frenchman-would-not-make-me-a-frenchman-i-am-a/) [F. Huegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-huegel/) > [I speak French with timidity, and not flowingly--except when excited. When using that language I have often noticed that I have hardly ever been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-speak-french-with-timidity-and-not-flowingly-except-when-excited/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Brains and character rule the world. The most distinguished Frenchman of the last century said: Men succeed less by their talents than their character.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-phillips/brains-and-character-rule-the-world-the-most-distinguished-frenchman/) [Wendell Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-phillips/) > [Is a fixed income not a good thing? Does not everyone love to count on a sure thing? 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