--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The admiral needs only one science, that…" description: "\"The admiral needs only one science, that of navigation. The general needs all the sciences.\" — Napoleon Bonaparte" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/napoleon-bonaparte-206_admiral_the-admiral-needs-only-one-science-that_1627718.jpg" --- # The admiral needs only one science, that of navigation… ![“The admiral needs only one science, that of navigation. The general needs all the sciences.” quote by Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/napoleon-bonaparte-206_admiral_the-admiral-needs-only-one-science-that_1627718.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/napoleon-bonaparte-206_admiral_the-admiral-needs-only-one-science-that_1627718.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/napoleon-bonaparte-206_admiral_the-admiral-needs-only-one-science-that_1627718.jpg) > “The admiral needs only one science, that of navigation. The general needs all the sciences.” [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A naval leader needs only navigation, while a land commander must master many disciplines. **In simple terms:** Navigation suffices for sailors; generals need all sciences. Key Takeaway Focus on core skill for your role. Themes specialization leadership knowledge strategy Mood strategic pragmatic Type historical inspirational When to use this quote - navy - army - career planning Key Concepts military theory education Questions to Reflect On - What core skill defines your profession? - How can you broaden your knowledge? A Different Perspective Over-specialization may limit adaptability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Navigation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/navigation/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“The sciences need philosophy; philosophy, in turn, needs the sciences. On both sides, certain naive minds, too confident in their own forces and satisfied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-sciences-need-philosophy-philosophy-in-turn-needs-the-sciences-on/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Now that practical skills have developed enough to provide adequately for material needs, one of these sciences which are not devoted to utilitarian ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/now-that-practical-skills-have-developed-enough-to-provide-adequately/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [I call my dad 'Admiral Ass Hat,' he doesn't really think it's funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-crownover/i-call-my-dad-admiral-ass-hat-he-doesn-t-really-think-it-s-funny/) [Jay Crownover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-crownover/) > [Ford used to come to work in a big car with two Admiral's flags, on each side of the car. His assistant would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-widmark/ford-used-to-come-to-work-in-a-big-car-with-two-admiral-s-flags-on/) [Richard Widmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-widmark/) > [Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/among-the-men-who-fought-on-iwo-jima-uncommon-valor-was-a-common/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) > [There aren't any great men. There are just great challenges that ordinary men like you and me are forced by circumstances to meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-halsey/there-aren-t-any-great-men-there-are-just-great-challenges-that/) [William Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-halsey/) > [“How do you want to die, Admiral? We are D'Angeline. At the hand of numbers, or dreams?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/how-do-you-want-to-die-admiral-we-are-d-angeline-at-the-hand-of/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [Of this voyage, I observe," says the Admiral, "that it has miraculously been shown, as may be understood by this writing, by the many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/of-this-voyage-i-observe-says-the-admiral-that-it-has-miraculously/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [The Admiral says that he never beheld so fair a thing: trees all along the river, beautiful and green, and different from ours, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/the-admiral-says-that-he-never-beheld-so-fair-a-thing-trees-all-along/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [As president, I wouldn't be making the day-to-day combat decisions. The job of the commander-in-chief is to lay the objective out and then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/as-president-i-wouldn-t-be-making-the-day-to-day-combat-decisions-the/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [But in this country it is necessary, now and then, to put one admiral to death in order to inspire the others to fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/but-in-this-country-it-is-necessary-now-and-then-to-put-one-admiral/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Thanks be to God," says the Admiral, "the air is soft as in April in Seville, and it is a pleasure to be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/thanks-be-to-god-says-the-admiral-the-air-is-soft-as-in-april-in/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [I do want to say that I was just endorsed - and more are coming next week - it will be over 200 admirals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-do-want-to-say-that-i-was-just-endorsed-and-more-are-coming-next/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Admirals extolled for standing still, or doing nothing with a deal of skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/admirals-extolled-for-standing-still-or-doing-nothing-with-a-deal-of/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [We had generals who were admirals and admirals who wanted to be generals. Generals acting as admirals are bad enough, but it was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holland-smith/we-had-generals-who-were-admirals-and-admirals-who-wanted-to-be/) Holland Smith ## More by Napoleon Bonaparte > [He is almost a statesman. He lies well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/he-is-almost-a-statesman-he-lies-well/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Men grow old quickly on the battlefield.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/men-grow-old-quickly-on-the-battlefield/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The only victories which leave no regret are those which are gained over ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-only-victories-which-leave-no-regret-are-those-which-are-gained/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [When a government is dependent upon bankers for money, they and not the leaders of the government control the situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/when-a-government-is-dependent-upon-bankers-for-money-they-and-not/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [In the eyes of empire builders men are not men but instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/in-the-eyes-of-empire-builders-men-are-not-men-but-instruments/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [All becomes easy when we follow the current of opinion; it is the ruler of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/all-becomes-easy-when-we-follow-the-current-of-opinion-it-is-the/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The bullet that will kill me is not yet cast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-bullet-that-will-kill-me-is-not-yet-cast/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [A great reputation is a great noise, the more there is of it, and the further does it swell. Land, monuments, Nations, all fall,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-great-reputation-is-a-great-noise-the-more-there-is-of-it-and-the/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Character is victory organized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/character-is-victory-organized/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Republican despotism is more fertile in acts of tyranny, because everyone has a hand in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/republican-despotism-is-more-fertile-in-acts-of-tyranny-because/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [My decision to destroy the authority of the blacks in Saint Domingue (Haiti) is not so much based on considerations of commerce and money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/my-decision-to-destroy-the-authority-of-the-blacks-in-saint-domingue/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The army is the true nobility of our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-army-is-the-true-nobility-of-our-country/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [There is only one favorable moment in war; talent consists in knowing how to seize it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/there-is-only-one-favorable-moment-in-war-talent-consists-in-knowing/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [A great reserve and severity of manners are necessary for the command of those who are older than ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-great-reserve-and-severity-of-manners-are-necessary-for-the-command/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) [Explore all 914 Napoleon Bonaparte quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) ## More Admiral quotes > [We had generals who were admirals and admirals who wanted to be generals. Generals acting as admirals are bad enough, but it was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holland-smith/we-had-generals-who-were-admirals-and-admirals-who-wanted-to-be/) Holland Smith > [Admirals extolled for standing still, or doing nothing with a deal of skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/admirals-extolled-for-standing-still-or-doing-nothing-with-a-deal-of/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [I do want to say that I was just endorsed - and more are coming next week - it will be over 200 admirals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-do-want-to-say-that-i-was-just-endorsed-and-more-are-coming-next/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Thanks be to God," says the Admiral, "the air is soft as in April in Seville, and it is a pleasure to be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/thanks-be-to-god-says-the-admiral-the-air-is-soft-as-in-april-in/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [But in this country it is necessary, now and then, to put one admiral to death in order to inspire the others to fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/but-in-this-country-it-is-necessary-now-and-then-to-put-one-admiral/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [As president, I wouldn't be making the day-to-day combat decisions. The job of the commander-in-chief is to lay the objective out and then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/as-president-i-wouldn-t-be-making-the-day-to-day-combat-decisions-the/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The Admiral says that he never beheld so fair a thing: trees all along the river, beautiful and green, and different from ours, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/the-admiral-says-that-he-never-beheld-so-fair-a-thing-trees-all-along/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [Of this voyage, I observe," says the Admiral, "that it has miraculously been shown, as may be understood by this writing, by the many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/of-this-voyage-i-observe-says-the-admiral-that-it-has-miraculously/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [“How do you want to die, Admiral? We are D'Angeline. At the hand of numbers, or dreams?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/how-do-you-want-to-die-admiral-we-are-d-angeline-at-the-hand-of/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [There aren't any great men. There are just great challenges that ordinary men like you and me are forced by circumstances to meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-halsey/there-aren-t-any-great-men-there-are-just-great-challenges-that/) [William Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-halsey/) > [Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/among-the-men-who-fought-on-iwo-jima-uncommon-valor-was-a-common/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) > [Ford used to come to work in a big car with two Admiral's flags, on each side of the car. His assistant would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-widmark/ford-used-to-come-to-work-in-a-big-car-with-two-admiral-s-flags-on/) [Richard Widmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-widmark/) > [I call my dad 'Admiral Ass Hat,' he doesn't really think it's funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-crownover/i-call-my-dad-admiral-ass-hat-he-doesn-t-really-think-it-s-funny/) [Jay Crownover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-crownover/) > [This is Leo. I'm the... What's my title? Am I like, admiral, or captain, or..." "Repair boy." "Very funny, Piper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/this-is-leo-i-m-the-what-s-my-title-am-i-like-admiral-or-captain-or/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Regarding the air raid over Los Angeles it was learned by Army G2 that Rear Admiral Anderson...recovered an unidentified airplane off the coast of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-marshall/regarding-the-air-raid-over-los-angeles-it-was-learned-by-army-g2/) [George C. Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-marshall/) Browse all 79 Admiral quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The admiral needs only one science, that of navigation. 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