Quote of the day 6th August 2025

 











In the above form this quote is usually attributed to Admiral Lord Nelson. In various slightly different forms a similar maxim is often attributed to his adversary Napoleon.

According to the Quote Investigator website, the version for which there is the earliest evidence and which may therefore be the most likely to be the authentic original saying, comes from a book written in 1836 about a battle in 1805, which suggests that when his marshals wanted to counter-attack a move by an opposing general, Napoleon replied that the French should first wait twenty minutes, and quotes him as follows:

“In that case,” said Napoleon, “let us wait twenty minutes; when the enemy is making a false movement we must take good care not to interrupt him.”

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