Isoroku Yamamoto Quotations

In the first six to twelve months of a war with the United States and Great Britain I will run wild and win victory upon victory. But then, if the war continues after that, I have no expectation of success.

I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.

Even a burglar hesitates to go back for more.

Anyone who has seen the auto factories in Detroit and the oil fields in Texas knows that Japan lacks the national power for a naval race with America.

A military man can scarcely pride himself on having smitten a sleeping enemy; it is more a matter of shame, simply, for the one smitten.

Should hostilities once break out between Japan and the United States, it is not enough that we take Guam and the Philippines, nor even Hawaii and San Francisco. To make victory certain, we would have to march into Washington and dictate the terms of peace in the White House. I wonder if our politicians, among whom armchair arguments about war are being glibly bandied about in the name of state politics, have confidence as to the final outcome and are prepared to make the necessary sacrifices.

Japan has always regarded the aircraft carrier as one of the most offensive of armaments.

You cannot invade mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass.

A brilliant man would find a way not to fight a war.

The fiercest serpent may be overcome by a swarm of ants,

I wonder what Heaven must think of the people down here on this small black speck in the universe that is earth, or of all their talk about the last few years-which are no more than a flash compared with eternity-being 'a time of emergency." It's really ridiculous.

The mindless rejoicing at home is really appalling; it makes me fear that the first blow against Tokyo will make them wilt at once...I only wish that [the Americans] had also had, say, three carriers at Hawaii...

A military man can scarcely pride himself on having 'smitten a sleeping enemy'; it is more a matter of shame, simply, for the one smitten. I would rather you made your appraisal after seeing what the enemy does, since it is certain that, angered and outraged, he will soon launch a determined counterattack.

But then, if the war continues after that, I have no expectation of success.

Japan would never invade the United States. We would find a rifle behind every blade of grass.

The fate of the Empire rests on this enterprise. Every man must devote himself totally to the task in hand.

Today, as chief Of the guardians of the seas Of the land of the dawn, I gaze up with awe At the rising sun!