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Isoroku Yamamoto Quotes

1884–1943 Japan

Isoroku Yamamoto (4 April 1884 – 18 April 1943) was a Japanese Marshal Admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and the commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet during World War II until his death.

Japan
Military leaders

Also known as: Yamamoto, Isoroku

Random Isoroku Yamamoto quote

5 quotes

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

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.

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.

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

Disputed

You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass.

Misattributed

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Isoroku Yamamoto (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.