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It is not the ship so much as the skillful sailing that assures the prosperous voyage.

By this time it was past six, and the enemy's van and ours were at too great a distance to engage, I perceived some of their ships stretching to the northward; and I imagined they were going to form a new line.

The great difference between voyages rests not with the ships, but with the people you meet on them.

Our duty was to try and find the Japanese fleet. We never did find the Japanese fleet and I am awfully glad, because they had attacked us there with six carriers, three battleships, 10 or 15 cruisers, and about 20 destroyers.

We were very fortunate that the carriers weren't in the harbor.

If you want to go anywhere in modern war, in the air, on the sea, on the land, you must have command of the air.

The days of languorous shore leave are long gone. Overnight stays are unheard of and sailor towns a distant memory. In better ports, seafarers head for a seamen's mission.

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

In my opinion, any navy less than that which would give us the habitual command of our own coast and seas would be little short of useless.