--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our Country will, I believe, sooner…" description: "\"Our Country will, I believe, sooner forgive an Officer for attacking his Enemy than for letting it alone.\" — Horatio Nelson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50a/horatio-nelson-11575_attacking_our-country-will-i-believe-sooner-forgiv_3195558.png" --- # Our Country will, I believe, sooner forgive an Officer for… ![“Our Country will, I believe, sooner forgive an Officer for attacking his Enemy than for letting it alone.” quote by Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50a/horatio-nelson-11575_attacking_our-country-will-i-believe-sooner-forgiv_3195558.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50a/horatio-nelson-11575_attacking_our-country-will-i-believe-sooner-forgiv_3195558.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50a/horatio-nelson-11575_attacking_our-country-will-i-believe-sooner-forgiv_3195558.png) > “Our Country will, I believe, sooner forgive an Officer for attacking his 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. He values decisive action against an enemy over in, seeing forgiveness as secondary to confronting threats. **In simple terms:** Action against enemies is more forgivable than inaction. Key Takeaway Act decisively against threats. Themes courage justice military ethics Mood determined serious Type historical military When to use this quote - battlefield decisions - political leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts War honor forgiveness Questions to Reflect On - Is inaction ever more harmful than action? - When should forgiveness be prioritized? A Different Perspective May overlook the moral cost of aggression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Horatio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horatio/) [Officers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/officers/) ## Related quotes > [Our country will, I believe, sooner forgive an officer for attacking an enemy than for letting it alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/our-country-will-i-believe-sooner-forgive-an-officer-for-attacking-an/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [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/) > [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 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/) > [Firstly, you must always implicitly obey orders, without attempting to form any opinion of your own respecting their propriety. Secondly, you must consider every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/firstly-you-must-always-implicitly-obey-orders-without-attempting-to-2/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [The business of the English commander-in-chief being first to bring an enemy fleet to battle on the most advantageous terms to himself, (I mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/the-business-of-the-english-commander-in-chief-being-first-to-bring/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy: he hath borne me on his back a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/alas-poor-yorick-i-knew-him-horatio-a-fellow-of-infinite-jest-of-most/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [While some multimillionaires started in poverty, most did not. A study of the origins of 303 textile, railroad and steel executives of the 1870s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/while-some-multimillionaires-started-in-poverty-most-did-not-a-study/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [As Hamlet tells his friend, ''There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.'' Well then, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-chaitin/as-hamlet-tells-his-friend-there-are-more-things-in-heaven-and-earth/) [Gregory Chaitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-chaitin/) > [Season your admiration for a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/season-your-admiration-for-a-while/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers could not, with all their quantity of love, make up my sum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-loved-ophelia-forty-thousand-brothers-could-not-with-all-their/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## 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 Attacking quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [When I was elected governor of my state, I had a legislature 87 percent Democrat. It was not lost on me that to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/when-i-was-elected-governor-of-my-state-i-had-a-legislature-87/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Positive thinking is so firmly enshrined in our culture that knocking it is a little like attacking motherhood or apple pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/positive-thinking-is-so-firmly-enshrined-in-our-culture-that-knocking/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [This is really good,” Donovan Caine said, attacking his third strawberry pancake. “You sound surprised,” I said. He shrugged. “I just didn’t think an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-estep/this-is-really-good-donovan-caine-said-attacking-his-third-strawberry/) [Jennifer Estep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-estep/) > [Dravid Could play attacking cricket like me but i could never play like him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gayle/dravid-could-play-attacking-cricket-like-me-but-i-could-never-play/) [Chris Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gayle/) > [Islamic fundamentalism is attacking us at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/islamic-fundamentalism-is-attacking-us-at-home/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) > [“California cat that chased off attacking”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/california-cat-that-chased-off-attacking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I listen to candidates spend all their time attacking Barack Obama, I'm glad they're not driving this bus because they'd be looking through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/when-i-listen-to-candidates-spend-all-their-time-attacking-barack/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [For many years the stakes were clear. There were the Arabs attacking us and us defending ourselves, so basically there were no real problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/for-many-years-the-stakes-were-clear-there-were-the-arabs-attacking/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) Browse all 580 Attacking quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our Country will, I believe, sooner forgive an Officer for attacking his Enemy than for letting it alone.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Horatio Nelson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/our-country-will-i-believe-sooner-forgive-an-officer-for-attacking/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attacking" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/our-country-will-i-believe-sooner-forgive-an-officer-for-attacking/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50a/horatio-nelson-11575_attacking_our-country-will-i-believe-sooner-forgiv_3195558.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50a/horatio-nelson-11575_attacking_our-country-will-i-believe-sooner-forgiv_3195558.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50a/horatio-nelson-11575_attacking_our-country-will-i-believe-sooner-forgiv_3195558.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our Country will, I believe, sooner forgive an Officer for attacking his Enemy than for letting it alone.” — Horatio Nelson", "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": "Horatio Nelson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Our Country will, I believe, sooner...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/our-country-will-i-believe-sooner-forgive-an-officer-for-attacking/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/our-country-will-i-believe-sooner-forgive-an-officer-for-attacking/#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 } } ] } ```