--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never break the neutrality of a port or…" description: "\"Never break the neutrality of a port or place, but never consider as neutral any place from whence an attack is allowed to be made.\" — Horatio Nelson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a9/horatio-nelson-11575_break_never-break-the-neutrality-of-a-port-or_854069.png" --- # Never break the neutrality of a port or place, but never… ![“Never break the neutrality of a port or place, but never consider as neutral any place from whence an attack is allowed to be made.” quote by Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a9/horatio-nelson-11575_break_never-break-the-neutrality-of-a-port-or_854069.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a9/horatio-nelson-11575_break_never-break-the-neutrality-of-a-port-or_854069.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a9/horatio-nelson-11575_break_never-break-the-neutrality-of-a-port-or_854069.png) > “Never break the neutrality of a port or place, but never consider as neutral any place from whence an attack is allowed to be made.” [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. Neutrality is a false safety; any place that allows attacks cannot be trusted as neutral. **In simple terms:** Neutral places can be unsafe. Key Takeaway Question apparent neutrality. Themes war strategy politics ethics Mood cautious analytical Type strategic philosophical When to use this quote - diplomacy - military planning - conflict zones Key Concepts realpolitik trust security Questions to Reflect On - When should you trust a neutral party? - What are the risks of assuming neutrality? A Different Perspective Neutrality may be necessary for peace; absolute distrust can provoke conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Neutrality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neutrality/) [Port](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/port/) ## Related quotes > [For many terrorists, carrying out an attack allowed them to become the heroes of their own story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/for-many-terrorists-carrying-out-an-attack-allowed-them-to-become-the/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [“You can not have empty or neutral mind, as long as you work the mind will contain dreams, if you stop working it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/you-can-not-have-empty-or-neutral-mind-as-long-as-you-work-the-mind/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [You can't be neutral on a moving train.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/you-can-t-be-neutral-on-a-moving-train/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [The heart is never neutral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ashley-cooper-7th-earl-of-shaftesbury/the-heart-is-never-neutral/) [Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ashley-cooper-7th-earl-of-shaftesbury/) > [If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/if-you-are-neutral-in-situations-of-injustice-you-have-chosen-the-2/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Personally, I think neutral is just another way of saving your own ass at the expense of someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/personally-i-think-neutral-is-just-another-way-of-saving-your-own-ass/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [It is well to be independent also well not to be neutral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lajos-kossuth/it-is-well-to-be-independent-also-well-not-to-be-neutral/) [Lajos Kossuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lajos-kossuth/) > [Being single...u can be neutral...doesn't mean u love or hate...be with one or the other...take care of urself..what's wrong with that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-k/being-single-u-can-be-neutral-doesn-t-mean-u-love-or-hate-be-with-one/) JACKIE K > [Indeed, it is impossible to be neutral. In a world already moving in certain directions, where wealth and power are already distributed in certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/indeed-it-is-impossible-to-be-neutral-in-a-world-already-moving-in/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [There's no time in life to be in neutral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mcdermott/there-s-no-time-in-life-to-be-in-neutral/) Greg McDermott > [The rights of neutrality will only be respected when they are defended by an adequate power. 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If an elephant has its foot on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/if-you-are-neutral-in-situations-of-injustice-you-have-chosen-the/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [In every encounter we either give life or we drain it; there is no neutral exchange.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/in-every-encounter-we-either-give-life-or-we-drain-it-there-is-no/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“I don't represent anyone's opinion. Not even my own. I'm neutral.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ljupka-cvetanova/i-don-t-represent-anyone-s-opinion-not-even-my-own-i-m-neutral/) [Ljupka Cvetanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ljupka-cvetanova/) ## 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 Break quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. 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