--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not that I mean the least fling against…" description: "\"“Not that I mean the least fling against men who have won a great fleet action - it is right and proper that THEY should be peers - but when you look a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/patrick-o-brian-2283_captain-jack_not-that-i-mean-the-least-fling-against_323721.png" --- # Not that I mean the least fling against men who have won a… ![“Not that I mean the least fling against men who have won a great fleet action - it is right and proper that THEY should be peers - but when you look at the mass of titles, tradesmen, dirty politicians, moneylenders...why, I had as soon be plain Jack Aubrey - Captain Jack Aubrey, for I am as proud…” quote by Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/patrick-o-brian-2283_captain-jack_not-that-i-mean-the-least-fling-against_323721.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/patrick-o-brian-2283_captain-jack_not-that-i-mean-the-least-fling-against_323721.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/patrick-o-brian-2283_captain-jack_not-that-i-mean-the-least-fling-against_323721.png) > ““Not that I mean the least fling against men who have won a great fleet action - it is right and proper that THEY should be peers - but when you look at the mass of titles, tradesmen, dirty politicians, moneylenders...why, I had as soon be plain Jack Aubrey - Captain Jack Aubrey, for I am as proud as Nebuchadnezzar of my service rank, and if ever I hoist my flag, I shall paint HERE LIVES ADMIRAL AUBREY on the front of Ashgrove Cottage in huge letters.”” [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A boastful declaration of pride in rank, likening oneself to a celebrated naval hero. **In simple terms:** Proud of one’s status, comparing to famous figures. Key Takeaway Own your achievements confidently. Themes pride military literature Mood dramatic boastful Type literary historical When to use this quote - leadership roles - military ceremonies - public speaking Key Concepts historical naval fiction ego social hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - What drives your need for public recognition? - How can humility balance confidence? A Different Perspective Risk of arrogance alienating peers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Captain jack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/captain-jack/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [“What's wrong with (Captain) Jack Aubrey?" "Everything, since he has a command and I have not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/what-s-wrong-with-captain-jack-aubrey-everything-since-he-has-a/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [...for very strangely his officers looked upon Jack Aubrey as a moral figure, in spite of all proofs of the contrary...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/for-very-strangely-his-officers-looked-upon-jack-aubrey-as-a-moral/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [Russell Crowe as Capt. Jack Aubrey in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, .. most unlikely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-weir/russell-crowe-as-capt-jack-aubrey-in-master-and-commander-the-far/) [Peter Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-weir/) > [Jack Aubrey is a tremendous tower of strength and you always want to read about him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/jack-aubrey-is-a-tremendous-tower-of-strength-and-you-always-want-to/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) > [“The passenger door popped open, and Owen peered inside. ‘Going my way?’ he asked with more than a hint of sarcasm. The interior was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-baxendale/the-passenger-door-popped-open-and-owen-peered-inside-going-my-way-he/) [Trevor Baxendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-baxendale/) > [“Nate called out, “Team Meeting!” and pointed a finger in the air. When he had everyone’s attention, Nate cleared his throat. “There are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-fine/nate-called-out-team-meeting-and-pointed-a-finger-in-the-air-when-he/) [Chelsea Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-fine/) > [“Captain Jack, that volatile Modoc, seems to have been handled still more causally. After being hanged and buried, Jack was exhumed, embalmed, and exhibited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-s-connell/captain-jack-that-volatile-modoc-seems-to-have-been-handled-still/) [Evan S. Connell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-s-connell/) > [I was the guy who had been bouncing around the film industry for years, and I'd been lucky if five or 10 people would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-was-the-guy-who-had-been-bouncing-around-the-film-industry-for/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [“He went to the coffee pot and picked it up, attempting to pour a cup before he realized it was empty and frowned. "Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-sharp/he-went-to-the-coffee-pot-and-picked-it-up-attempting-to-pour-a-cup/) [Elizabeth Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-sharp/) > [Interestingly enough, for me, a character like Captain Jack, you feel like you could just continue. The possibilities are endless and limitless. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/interestingly-enough-for-me-a-character-like-captain-jack-you-feel/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [I had never experienced anything like the response I got from people for Pirates of the Caribbean, where you meet a 75-year-old woman who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-had-never-experienced-anything-like-the-response-i-got-from-people/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [Captain Jack Sparrow is like a cross between Keith Richards and Pepe Le Pew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/captain-jack-sparrow-is-like-a-cross-between-keith-richards-and-pepe/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [With every character you play, as these guys will tell you, there's a part of you goes into that in terms of the ingredients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/with-every-character-you-play-as-these-guys-will-tell-you-there-s-a/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [“The only rules that really matter are these; what a man can do, and what a man can’t do.” — Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-andrew/the-only-rules-that-really-matter-are-these-what-a-man-can-do-and/) Michael Andrew > [Mate, if you choose to lock your heart away, you'll lose it forever. -Captain Jack Sparrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirates-of-the-caribbean/mate-if-you-choose-to-lock-your-heart-away-you-ll-lose-it-forever/) Pirates Of The Caribbean ## More by Patrick O'Brian > [“Christ's blood in heaven, you ignorant, incompetent whey-faced nestlecock, do you think I am a hired spy, an informer? That I have a master,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/christ-s-blood-in-heaven-you-ignorant-incompetent-whey-faced/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“To tell the truth, sir, I believe I had rather sit in the shelter for a while. The cabbage seems to have turned my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/to-tell-the-truth-sir-i-believe-i-had-rather-sit-in-the-shelter-for-a/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“Never mind the disappointment. Salt water will wash it away. You will be amazed how unimportant it will seem in a week’s time –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/never-mind-the-disappointment-salt-water-will-wash-it-away-you-will/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“The weather had freshened almost to coldness, for the wind was coming more easterly, from the chilly currents between Tristan and the Cape; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/the-weather-had-freshened-almost-to-coldness-for-the-wind-was-coming/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“Of course I do know it is the French who are so wicked; but there are all these people who keep coming and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/of-course-i-do-know-it-is-the-french-who-are-so-wicked-but-there-are/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [My wife and I have spent most of our lives in France, and we are both pretty well bilingual, my wife more purely than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/my-wife-and-i-have-spent-most-of-our-lives-in-france-and-we-are-both/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“This short watch that is about to come, or rather these two short watches--why are they called dog watches? Where, heu, heu, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/this-short-watch-that-is-about-to-come-or-rather-these-two-short/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [The function of the novel is the exploration of the human condition. Really, that's what it's all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/the-function-of-the-novel-is-the-exploration-of-the-human-condition/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [It is a great while since I felt the grind of bone under my saw,' he added, smiling with anticipation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/it-is-a-great-while-since-i-felt-the-grind-of-bone-under-my-saw-he/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [Other people's marriages are a perpetual source of amazement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/other-people-s-marriages-are-a-perpetual-source-of-amazement/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“But I will tell you another misery that is not to be denied. In the common, natural course of events physicians, surgeons and apothecaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/but-i-will-tell-you-another-misery-that-is-not-to-be-denied-in-the/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“Yet,'said Maturin, pursuing his own thought, 'there is a quality in dogs, I must confess, rarely to be seen elsewhere and that is affection:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/yet-said-maturin-pursuing-his-own-thought-there-is-a-quality-in-dogs/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“Physically he was tired and his body relaxed throughout its entire length; his mind was in much the same state, floating free, detached, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/physically-he-was-tired-and-his-body-relaxed-throughout-its-entire/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“It was quite unlike their friendly discourse of some days before, and presently Stephen grew sadly bored: lies or half-lies, he reflected, had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/it-was-quite-unlike-their-friendly-discourse-of-some-days-before-and/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“it would be the Devil to pay and no pitch hot”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/it-would-be-the-devil-to-pay-and-no-pitch-hot/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) [Explore all 167 Patrick O'Brian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) ## More Captain jack quotes > [Mate, if you choose to lock your heart away, you'll lose it forever. -Captain Jack Sparrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirates-of-the-caribbean/mate-if-you-choose-to-lock-your-heart-away-you-ll-lose-it-forever/) Pirates Of The Caribbean > [“The only rules that really matter are these; what a man can do, and what a man can’t do.” — Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-andrew/the-only-rules-that-really-matter-are-these-what-a-man-can-do-and/) Michael Andrew > [With every character you play, as these guys will tell you, there's a part of you goes into that in terms of the ingredients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/with-every-character-you-play-as-these-guys-will-tell-you-there-s-a/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [Captain Jack Sparrow is like a cross between Keith Richards and Pepe Le Pew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/captain-jack-sparrow-is-like-a-cross-between-keith-richards-and-pepe/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [I had never experienced anything like the response I got from people for Pirates of the Caribbean, where you meet a 75-year-old woman who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-had-never-experienced-anything-like-the-response-i-got-from-people/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [Interestingly enough, for me, a character like Captain Jack, you feel like you could just continue. The possibilities are endless and limitless. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/interestingly-enough-for-me-a-character-like-captain-jack-you-feel/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [“He went to the coffee pot and picked it up, attempting to pour a cup before he realized it was empty and frowned. "Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-sharp/he-went-to-the-coffee-pot-and-picked-it-up-attempting-to-pour-a-cup/) [Elizabeth Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-sharp/) > [I was the guy who had been bouncing around the film industry for years, and I'd been lucky if five or 10 people would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-was-the-guy-who-had-been-bouncing-around-the-film-industry-for/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [“Captain Jack, that volatile Modoc, seems to have been handled still more causally. After being hanged and buried, Jack was exhumed, embalmed, and exhibited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-s-connell/captain-jack-that-volatile-modoc-seems-to-have-been-handled-still/) [Evan S. Connell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-s-connell/) > [“Nate called out, “Team Meeting!” and pointed a finger in the air. When he had everyone’s attention, Nate cleared his throat. “There are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-fine/nate-called-out-team-meeting-and-pointed-a-finger-in-the-air-when-he/) [Chelsea Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-fine/) > [“The passenger door popped open, and Owen peered inside. ‘Going my way?’ he asked with more than a hint of sarcasm. The interior was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-baxendale/the-passenger-door-popped-open-and-owen-peered-inside-going-my-way-he/) [Trevor Baxendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-baxendale/) > [I would love to work with Johnny Depp. I really admire him as an actor, and personally, in my opinion, his portrayal of Captain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-sunshine/i-would-love-to-work-with-johnny-depp-i-really-admire-him-as-an-actor/) [Caroline Sunshine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-sunshine/) > [With a character like a Captain Jack, who can essentially set up these verbal land mines around him, and just keep passing the "absurdity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/with-a-character-like-a-captain-jack-who-can-essentially-set-up-these/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [There's a lot of me in Captain Jack and there's a lot of Captain Jack in me. And there is no pun intended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrowman/there-s-a-lot-of-me-in-captain-jack-and-there-s-a-lot-of-captain-jack/) [John Barrowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrowman/) > [Im Captain Jack Sparrow. Savvy?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-sparrow/im-captain-jack-sparrow-savvy/) Jack Sparrow [Browse all 25 Captain jack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/captain-jack/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Not that I mean the least fling against men who have won a great fleet action - it is right and proper that THEY should be peers - but when you look at the mass of titles, tradesmen, dirty politicians, moneylenders...why, I had as soon be plain Jack Aubrey - Captain Jack Aubrey, for I am as proud as Nebuchadnezzar of my service rank, and if ever I hoist my flag, I shall paint HERE LIVES ADMIRAL AUBREY on the front of Ashgrove Cottage in huge letters.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Patrick O'Brian" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/not-that-i-mean-the-least-fling-against-men-who-have-won-a-great/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Captain jack" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/not-that-i-mean-the-least-fling-against-men-who-have-won-a-great/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/patrick-o-brian-2283_captain-jack_not-that-i-mean-the-least-fling-against_323721.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/patrick-o-brian-2283_captain-jack_not-that-i-mean-the-least-fling-against_323721.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/patrick-o-brian-2283_captain-jack_not-that-i-mean-the-least-fling-against_323721.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Not that I mean the least fling against men who have won a great fleet action - it is right and proper that…” — Patrick O'Brian", "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": "Patrick O'Brian", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Not that I mean the least...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/not-that-i-mean-the-least-fling-against-men-who-have-won-a-great/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/not-that-i-mean-the-least-fling-against-men-who-have-won-a-great/#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 } } ] } ```