Quotes from Chester W. Nimitz

It is the function of the Navy to carry the war to the enemy so that it is not fought on U.S. soil.

The Japanese had, in fact, already sued for peace. The atomic bomb played no decisive part, from a purely military point of view, in the defeat of Japan.

I have just taken on a great responsibility. I will do my utmost to meet it.

The best that science can devise and that naval organization can provide must be regarded only as an aid, and never as a substitute for good seamanship.

Is the proposed operation likely to succeed? What might the consequences of failure? Is it in the realm of practicability in terms of material and supplies?

The U.S.'s major strength factor and weapon is its economy. If you cripple it, you cripple the military.

That is not to say that we can relax our readiness to defend ourselves. Our armament must be adequate to the needs, but our faith is not primarily in these machines of defense but in ourselves.

They fought together as brothers in arms; they died together and now they sleep side by side. To them we have a solemn obligation.

It is the function of the Navy to carry the war to the enemy so that it will not be fought on U.S. soil.

A ship is always referred to as 'she' because it costs so much to keep one in paint and powder.

The enemy of our games was always Japan, and the courses were so thorough that after the start of World War II, nothing that happened in the Pacific was strange or unexpected.

We must not again underestimate the Japanese.

Luck can be attributed to a well-conceived plan carried out by a well-trained and indoctrinated task group.

Leadership consists of picking good men and helping them do their best.

Some of the best advice I've had comes from junior officers and enlisted men.

Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue.

Is the proposed operation likely to succeed? What might the consequences of failure? Is it in the realm of practicability in terms of material and supplies?

God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right even though I think it is hopeless.

That is not to say that we can relax our readiness to defend ourselves. Our armament must be adequate to the needs, but our faith is not primarily in these machines of defense but in ourselves.

Uncommon valor was a common virtue.

I felt that it was an unnecessary loss of civilian life... We had them beaten. They hadn't enough food, they couldn't do anything.