Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington quotes

Publish and be damned. (Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington)
I used to say of him that his presence on the field made the difference of forty thousand men. View quote
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
All the business of war, and indeed all the business of life, is to endeavour to find out what you don't know by what you do; that's what I called "guessing what was at the other side of the hill". View quote
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
The Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton. View quote
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
The only thing I am afraid of is fear. View quote
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Hard pounding this, gentlemen; let's see who will pound longest. View quote
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
The French system of conscription brings together a fair sample of all classes; ours is composed of the scum of the earth - the mere scum of the earth. It is only wonderful that we should be able to make so much out of them afterwards. View quote
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
I don't know what effect these men will have on the enemy, but by God, they terrify me. View quote
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
My rule always was to do the business of the day in the day. View quote
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
The whole art of war consists of guessing at what is on the other side of the hill. View quote
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
They wanted this iron fist to command them. (Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington)
We always have been, we are, and I hope that we always shall be detested in France. View quote
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Just to show you how little reliance can be placed even on what are supposed the best accounts of a battle, I mention that there are some circumstances mentioned in General -'s account which did not occur as he relates them. It is impossible to say when each important occurrence took place, or in what order. View quote
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
You must build your House of Parliament on the river: so... that the populace cannot exact their demands by sitting down round you. View quote
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
I never saw so many shocking bad hats in my life. View quote
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
The history of a battle, is not unlike the history of a ball. Some individuals may recollect all the little events of which the great result is the battle won or lost, but no individual can recollect the order in which, or the exact moment at which, they occurred, which makes all the difference as to their value or importance... View quote
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Napoleon has humbugged me, by God; he has gained twenty-four hours' march on me. View quote
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
I believe I forgot to tell you I was made a Duke. View quote
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
I have seen their backs before, madam. View quote
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
During the Peninsula War, I heard a Portuguese general address his troops before a battle with the words, "Remember men, you are Portuguese!" View quote
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
I have no small talk and Peel has no manners. (Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington)
If you believe that you will believe anything. View quote
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
There is no mistake; there has been no mistake; and there shall be no mistake. View quote
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Be discreet in all things, and so render it unnecessary to be mysterious. View quote
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Sparrow-hawks, Ma'am. View quote
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington