"FIGHTING LIKE HELL"

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1920, Page 9

"FIGHTING LIKE HELL"

SOME FISHEETSMS. EXPLOSIONS FROM A GREAT MIND. Tlio following are some of tie late Admiral Lord Fisher's most striking phrases:— On Himself:—"l say with St, Paul, 'I boast myself a little.' He was compelled—so am I." "I sometimes think I am the only sane man." "I have been CI years in the service of my country, and I leave my record in the hands of my countrymen. I am content to wait." On life Career:—"l have always had to fight like hell, and fighting like hell has made me what I am." "Hunger and thirst are the way to heaven." On (lie Government:—"Sack the lot." "But the Lot are our Masters and we are the Slaves." On War:—'-Hit hard, hit first, hit anywhere." "Moderation irn war is imbecility." "The essence of war is violence." "You cannot humanise war. You might as well talk of humanising hell!" "Speed and the big gun are everything." "Our motto in the war was 'Too Late.' " On England:—''England never succumbs." "The frontiers of England are the sea coasts of her enemies." On the.South African War:—"Stead was a pro-Boer and so was I." On the Navy (1910):—"The present Navy will be obsolete for a war in a few years hence." On Battleships:— "Build few and build fast. Each one better than the last." "Millions of tortoises won't catch a hare.''' On Sir Percy Scott:—"He hits the target. I don't think he ever poured hot water down anybody's back." On Admirals: —"We still have ancient admirals who believe in bows and arrows." On Oil Fuel:—"l leave the oil and anti-oil experts to eat each other, but have no doubt that oil is the fuel And the engine of the future won't have boilers. Not far off we shall harness the mqon." "The Admiralty thought of coal in the oil age, it was so safe. Lot's wife thought of her toasted muffins.'* On Genius:—"Genius is not insanity; it only means the man is before his time." On Tirainy Men:—"l hate a brainy man." On Secrecy:— "There are three types of secrecy—(one) the ostrich, (two) the red box," (three) the real thing. The secrecy of the red box is that of a distinguished admiral who used to have his red despatch box carried before him as containing the most secret plans; but one day, the box being unfortunately capsized and )>iin=t open, the only contents that fell out wore copies of 'La Vie Parisienne.' " On Thinking:—"lf you want to think anything out never go for a long walk —you have to think about turning cornel's." On Argument:—"lt's only d d fools who argue." "Never contradict, never exnlain, never apologise." On Economy:—"Economy is the soul of efficiency." On Waste:—"l have ■ seen blankets mouldering from decay waiting to be wanted, and mouldering'parasites looking after the blankets." On Efficiency:—"Favouritism is the uaoret of aJEciancy.'?