--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our country will, I believe, sooner…" description: "\"Our country will, I believe, sooner forgive an officer for attacking an enemy than for letting it alone.\" — Horatio Nelson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d50/horatio-nelson-11575_alone_our-country-will-i-believe-sooner-forgiv_1887442.jpg" --- # Our country will, I believe, sooner forgive an officer for… ![“Our country will, I believe, sooner forgive an officer for attacking an enemy than for letting it alone.” quote by Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d50/horatio-nelson-11575_alone_our-country-will-i-believe-sooner-forgiv_1887442.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d50/horatio-nelson-11575_alone_our-country-will-i-believe-sooner-forgiv_1887442.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d50/horatio-nelson-11575_alone_our-country-will-i-believe-sooner-forgiv_1887442.jpg) > “Our country will, I believe, sooner forgive an officer for attacking an enemy than for letting it alone.” [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. People more readily condemn inaction against an enemy than the act of attacking. **In simple terms:** People forgive attacks more than inaction. Key Takeaway Recognize the moral weight of choosing to act. Themes ethics military justice Mood serious reflective Type ethical historical When to use this quote - warfare - political protest - law enforcement - personal boundaries Key Concepts moral philosophy strategic decision-making Questions to Reflect On - When is inaction morally preferable? - How does fear influence aggressive choices? A Different Perspective Context may differ; sometimes restraint is wiser. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alone/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) ## Related quotes > [Our Country will, I believe, sooner forgive an Officer for attacking his Enemy than for letting it alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/our-country-will-i-believe-sooner-forgive-an-officer-for-attacking/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [“The need to forgive the officer would not have moved me, because even then, in some inchoate form, I knew that Prince was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/the-need-to-forgive-the-officer-would-not-have-moved-me-because-even/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [Women in love sooner forgive great indiscretions than small infidelities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/women-in-love-sooner-forgive-great-indiscretions-than-small/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The military has no constant form, just as water has no constant shape - adapt as you face the enemy, without letting them know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-military-has-no-constant-form-just-as-water-has-no-constant-shape/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“You must believe, sooner or later, in a Mind which brought mind into existence out of matter, unless you are going to sit down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-a-knox/you-must-believe-sooner-or-later-in-a-mind-which-brought-mind-into/) [Ronald A. Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-a-knox/) > [The truth is there are a million steps, and we don't even know what the steps are, and worse, at any given moment we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/the-truth-is-there-are-a-million-steps-and-we-don-t-even-know-what/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [I do believe, sooner rather than later, churches will face the loss of their tax-exempt status if they do not engage in same-sex ceremonies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-do-believe-sooner-rather-than-later-churches-will-face-the-loss-of/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [“Be careful of the lie you believe about yourself, sooner or later, you will be convinced of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saji-ijiyemi/be-careful-of-the-lie-you-believe-about-yourself-sooner-or-later-you/) [Saji Ijiyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saji-ijiyemi/) > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [I've gotten better at calling out coverages, communication, and being vertical when they're attacking me in the paint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivica-zubac/i-ve-gotten-better-at-calling-out-coverages-communication-and-being/) [Ivica Zubac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivica-zubac/) > [Wine is the first weapon that devils use in attacking the young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/wine-is-the-first-weapon-that-devils-use-in-attacking-the-young/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [Let a man who has to make his fortune in life remember this maxim: Attacking is the only secret. Dare and the world yields,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/let-a-man-who-has-to-make-his-fortune-in-life-remember-this-maxim/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [It's a big part of my game, attacking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-walker/it-s-a-big-part-of-my-game-attacking/) [Kyle Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-walker/) > [Before I signed for Liverpool, I was playing for Newcastle as a No. 10 - basically, I was always attacking. I didn't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georginio-wijnaldum/before-i-signed-for-liverpool-i-was-playing-for-newcastle-as-a-no-10/) [Georginio Wijnaldum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georginio-wijnaldum/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## 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 Alone quotes > [I can be taken away from myself quite easily, I kind of start betraying myself and compromising my integrity, to keep someone else happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-lou-wood/i-can-be-taken-away-from-myself-quite-easily-i-kind-of-start/) [Aimee Lou Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-lou-wood/) > [Perhaps our own opposition to even the level of European integration we have now, let alone any more, is well known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/perhaps-our-own-opposition-to-even-the-level-of-european-integration/) [Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/) > [If your goal is to look different, you'll see results faster with strength training than with cardio alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kaiser/if-your-goal-is-to-look-different-you-ll-see-results-faster-with/) [Anna Kaiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kaiser/) > [With my songs, the question is always, 'Can you pull it off live, alone on just an acoustic guitar?' 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