Even though there wasn't much damage, it's a disgrace that the skies over the imperial capital should have been defiled without a single enemy plane being shot down. It provides a regrettably graphic illustration of the saying that a bungling attack is better than the most skillful defense.

Isoroku Yamamoto

Categorized in : Better Down Saying Enemy

A brilliant man would find a way not to fight a war.

Isoroku Yamamoto

fighting men war

The fiercest serpent may be overcome by a swarm of ants.

Isoroku Yamamoto

ants overcoming may

In the first six to twelve months of a war with the United States and Great Britain I will run wild and win victory upon victory. But then, if the war continues after that, I have no expectation of success.

Isoroku Yamamoto

military running war

Should hostilities once break out between Japan and the United States, it is not enough that we take Guam and the Philippines, nor even Hawaii and San Francisco. To make victory certain, we would have to march into Washington and dictate the terms of peace in the White House. I wonder if our politicians, among whom armchair arguments about war are being glibly bandied about in the name of state politics, have confidence as to the final outcome and are prepared to make the necessary sacrifices.

Isoroku Yamamoto

sacrifice white war

The fate of the Empire rests on this enterprise. Every man must devote himself totally to the task in hand.

Isoroku Yamamoto

fate men hands

A military man can scarcely pride himself on having 'smitten a sleeping enemy'; it is more a matter of shame, simply, for the one smitten. I would rather you made your appraisal after seeing what the enemy does, since it is certain that, angered and outraged, he will soon launch a determined counterattack.

Isoroku Yamamoto

pride military sleep

The mindless rejoicing at home is really appalling; it makes me fear that the first blow against Tokyo will make them wilt at once...I only wish that [the Americans] had also had, say, three carriers at Hawaii.

Isoroku Yamamoto

military blow home

I wonder what Heaven must think of the people down here on this small black speck in the universe that is earth, or of all their talk about the last few years-which are no more than a flash compared with eternity-being 'a time of emergency." It's really ridiculous.

Isoroku Yamamoto

people years thinking

A military man can scarcely pride himself on having smitten a sleeping enemy; it is more a matter of shame, simply, for the one smitten.

Isoroku Yamamoto

pride military sleep

Today, as chief Of the guardians of the seas Of the land of the dawn, I gaze up with awe At the rising sun!

Isoroku Yamamoto

land sea peace

I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.

Isoroku Yamamoto

sleeping him terrible done fear

Never tell anyone outside my staff that the Submarine Force and the First Air Fleet were responsible for the failure at Midway. The failure at Midway was mine.

Isoroku Yamamoto

never tell force failure

I sincerely desire to be appointed Commander in Chief of the air fleet to attack Pearl Harbor so that I may personally command that attack force.

Isoroku Yamamoto

attack force air desire

To fight the United States is like fighting the whole world. But it has been decided. So I will fight the best I can.

Isoroku Yamamoto

fight best fighting world

The most important thing we have to do first of all in a war with the U.S., I firmly believe, is to fiercely attack and destroy the U.S. main fleet at the outset of the war so that the morale of the U.S. Navy and her people goes down to such an extent that it cannot be recovered.

Isoroku Yamamoto

down war believe people

I'm against war with the United States. But I am an officer of the Imperial Navy and a subject of His Majesty the Emperor.

Isoroku Yamamoto

against i-am navy war

Should hostilities once break out between Japan and the United States, it is not enough that we take Guam and the Philippines, nor even Hawaii and San Francisco. We would have to march into Washington and sign the treaty in the White House.

Isoroku Yamamoto

philippines enough white house

People who don't gamble aren't worth talking to.

Isoroku Yamamoto

worth who talking people

It is like a disease to think that an invincible status has been achieved after being satisfied with the past successful operations.

Isoroku Yamamoto

status think satisfied past

Anyone who has seen the auto factories in Detroit and the oil fields in Texas knows that Japan lacks the national power for a naval race with America.

Isoroku Yamamoto

oil race power america