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John Paul Jones on Veterans Day

1747–1792 Scotland

← All quotes by John Paul Jones

1 quote

A navy is essentially and necessarily aristocratic. True as may be the political principles for which we are now contending they can never be practically applied or even admitted on board ship, out of port, or off soundings. This may seem a hardship, but it is nevertheless the simplest of truths. Whilst the ships sent forth by the Congress may and must fight for the principles of human rights and republican freedom, the ships themselves must be ruled and commanded at sea under a system of absolute despotism.

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: John Paul Jones (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.