Quotes from Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951)

Capt. Horatio Hornblower, R.N: Captain Horatio Hornblower at your service. King George of England charges me with messages of his friendship...
El Supremo: I am not interested in the words of a mere king!
Capt. Horatio Hornblower, R.N: Ha-hmm.

- Gregory Peck (as Capt. Horatio Hornblower R.N) in Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951)

Capt. Horatio Hornblower, R.N: Gentlemen, we will raise our objective within two days. It will be identified by a fortress on a hill overlooking a large bay.
[Hornblower leaves the quarterdeck]
Lt. Crystal: A fortress... and a wind before morning. Huh! Heat's gone to his head.
Lt. William Bush: Well, I think he knows more than he's saying.
Lt. Crystal: Perhaps you'd care to take a wager on it, Mr. Bush?
Lt. William Bush: How much can you afford?
Lt. Crystal: Five shillings that says no wind and ten shillings that we don't sight any fortress.
Lt. William Bush: Done!

- Robert Beatty (as Lt. William Bush) in Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951)

Capt. Horatio Hornblower, R.N: If I am not back aboard the Lydia within one hour, she'll train her guns upon your fort and reduce it to rubble.
El Supremo: With you in it, Captain?
Capt. Horatio Hornblower, R.N: That is my order.

- Gregory Peck (as Capt. Horatio Hornblower R.N) in Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951)

Capt. Horatio Hornblower, R.N: Mr. Bush, here are the keys to my dispatch box containing the Admiralty's orders. If I'm not back aboard by midnight, you will assume command.
Lt. William Bush: Not back on board, sir? But you said they were on our side!
Capt. Horatio Hornblower, R.N: War breeds strange allies, Mr. Bush

- Gregory Peck (as Capt. Horatio Hornblower R.N) in Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951)

Capt. Horatio Hornblower, R.N: This ship is getting slack, Mr. Gerard. It's taking you longer every day to clear for action.
2nd Lt. Gerard: The hands are weak, sir, and...
Capt. Horatio Hornblower, R.N: And what?
2nd Lt. Gerard: Restless, sir. After all, sir, seven months without sighting land.
Capt. Horatio Hornblower, R.N: No excuse. You ought to control them...
Lookout: Land ho! Off the starboard bow!
Capt. Horatio Hornblower, R.N: ...An officer who cannot control his men is not reliable.
2nd Lt. Gerard: Yes, sir. Excuse me, sir, that was "Land ho."
Capt. Horatio Hornblower, R.N: I have ears, Mr. Gerard.
2nd Lt. Gerard: I thought you might be interested, sir.
Capt. Horatio Hornblower, R.N: It took you eleven minutes and twenty seconds to clear for action the other day. I want it done in ten. Now!
2nd Lt. Gerard: Now, sir?
Capt. Horatio Hornblower, R.N: You seem to have your mind on something else - I said, "Now!"

- Gregory Peck (as Capt. Horatio Hornblower R.N) in Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951)

Capt. Horatio Hornblower, R.N: You know why I'm having Hummill flogged, Mr. Gerard?
2nd Lt. Gerard: I reported him for fighting, sir.
Capt. Horatio Hornblower, R.N: I am not having him flogged for fighting, Mr. Gerard. I'm having him flogged because you said in front of the men that you'd flog him. This is a ship of war - as it's captain, I must uphold my lieutenants' authority.
2nd Lt. Gerard: I understand, sir.
Capt. Horatio Hornblower, R.N: Flogging only makes a bad man worse, Mr. Gerard... but it can break a good man's spirit. Is Hummill a bad man?
2nd Lt. Gerard: Aside from his temper, sir, he's a good sailor.
Capt. Horatio Hornblower, R.N: A good sailor, ill-fed and thirsty. Watch the cat as it cuts his back to pieces, Mr. Gerard... and in the future, perhaps you'll think twice before you threaten anyone with a flogging.

- Gregory Peck (as Capt. Horatio Hornblower R.N) in Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951)

Capt. Horatio Hornblower, R.N: You may retain your sword, Captain. Mr. Bush, will you remove these officers to the Lydia and put them in irons?
Spanish captain: B-but we have surrendered! There are rules of war!
Capt. Horatio Hornblower, R.N: Believe me, Captain, if Don Julian so much as sees you during the next day, he'll have you all killed. Those are his rules of war.

- Gregory Peck (as Capt. Horatio Hornblower R.N) in Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951)

Midshipman Longley: That was wonderful swordsmanship, sir.
Capt. Horatio Hornblower, R.N: Mr. Longley, when I was a midshipman I was bottom of the class in swordsmanship.

- Gregory Peck (as Capt. Horatio Hornblower R.N) in Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951)

Midshipman Longley: What if the Spanish attack while we're at anchor?
Lt. William Bush: The Lydia'd be blown to bits... and I'd lose twenty shillings.

- Robert Beatty (as Lt. William Bush) in Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951)

Surgeon Gundarson: You'll lose more than Hazlett if you don't put ashore for fresh food and water!
Capt. Horatio Hornblower, R.N: Perhaps you'll dig into your medical kit and get me a breath of fresh wind.

- Gregory Peck (as Capt. Horatio Hornblower R.N) in Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951)