“Things won are done, joy’s soul lies in the doing.” – William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida 1.2
Month: July 2026
“He that will have a cake out of the wheat must needs tarry the grinding.” – William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida 1.1
“I am weaker than a woman’s tear, tamer than sleep, fonder than ignorance, less valiant than the virgin in the night, and skilless as unpractic’d infancy.” – William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida 1.1
“When such a small island as Engebi is hit by about 130 bombs a day, and, having lost its ammunition and provisions, lies helpless, it is no wonder that some soldiers have gone out of their minds.” – Excerpt from the diary of an unidentified member of the Japanese 1st Amphibious Brigade, in Henry I. Shaw, Jr., Bernard C. Nalty, and Edwin T. Turnbladh, in Central Pacific Drive, History of U.S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II, Vol. III, “Part III, The Marshalls: Quickening the Pace”
“Effective combat units are achieved by effective unit training, and can never be replaced by assorted combinations of component units, however highly trained.” – Col. Joseph C. Anderson (quoted by Henry I. Shaw, Jr., Bernard C. Nalty, and Edwin T. Turnbladh, in Central Pacific Drive, History of U.S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II, Vol. III, “Part III, The Marshalls: Quickening the Pace”)
“At this time [early morning, January 31, 1944], the reconnaissance company lost radio contact with the task force. Unaware that the enemy had abandoned Darrit, Admiral Hill ordered the USS Portland to shell the island at 0634. Within 20 minutes, contact was regained, the bombardment was stopped, and a scheduled air strike was cancelled. The troops then occupied Darrit, raising the American flag for the first time over prewar Japanese territory at 0955.” – Henry I. Shaw, Jr., Bernard C. Nalty, and Edwin T. Turnbladh, Central Pacific Drive, History of U.S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II, Vol. III, “Part III, The Marshalls: Quickening the Pace”
“In general, if any branch of trade, or any division of labour, be advantageous to the public, the freer and more general the competition, it will always be the more so.” – Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Vol. One
“Those exertions of the natural liberty of a few individuals, which might endanger the security of the whole society, are, and ought to be, restrained by the laws of all governments; of the most free, as well as of the most despotical.” – Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Vol. One
“It is not by augmenting the capital of the country, but by rendering a greater part of that capital active and productive than would otherwise be so, that the most judicious operations of banking can increase the industry of the country.” – Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Vol. One
“The executive officer of the 106th Infantry [Regiment] recalled that, during a briefing of principal commanders and staff officers at Pearl Harbor in January [1944], Admiral Turner said, in effect: ‘I say to you commanders of ships—your mission is to put the troops ashore and support their attack to the limit of your capabilities. We expect to lose some ships! If your mission demands it, risk your ship!’” – Henry I. Shaw, Jr., Bernard C. Nalty, and Edwin T. Turnbladh, Central Pacific Drive, History of U.S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II, Vol. III, “Part III, The Marshalls: Quickening the Pace” (emphasis in original)
“Nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won.” – Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, private correspondence, June 1815
“As a madman’s epistles are no gospels, so it skills not much when they are delivered.” – William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night; or, What You Will 5.1
“To be said, an honest man and a good housekeeper, goes as fairly as to say, a careful man and a great scholar.” – William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night; or, What You Will 4.2
“In nature there’s no blemish but the mind; none can be call’d deform’d but the unkind: virtue is beauty; but the beauteous-evil are empty trunks o’erflourish’d by the devil.” – William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night; or, What You Will 3.4
“It comes to pass oft that a terrible oath, with a swaggering accent sharply twanged off, gives manhood more approbation than ever proof itself would have earned.” – William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night; or, What You Will 3.4
“Youth is bought more oft than begged or borrowed.” – William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night; or, What You Will 3.4