Author of quotes: Alfred Mahan

Only when the power grows weak under the spread of the guards of course, instead of concentrate a great combination to control the sea, the destruction of the commercial fair brings a reproach in the wrong direction. It is a fair inference from analogy that the two rival armies may also agree to respect each other, like two warring States, could guarantee immunity to the hostile trade.
It is only when effort is frittered away in the feeble dissemination of the guerre-de-course , instead of being concentrated in a great combination to control the sea, that commerce-destroying justly incurs the reproach of misdirected effort. It is a fair deduction from analogy, that two contending armies might as well agree to respect each other's communications, as two belligerent states to guarantee immunity to hostile commerce.

History of sea power is largely, but not exclusively, the story of the rivalry between Nations, of mutual rivalries, of violence, which often leads to war. The profound impact of Maritime trade on the wealth and strength of countries was clearly seen long before had identified the true principles governing its growth and prosperity. In order to secure a disproportionate share of such benefits, has made every effort to exclude others or the peaceful legislative methods of providing monopoly or prohibitory regulations, or when they did not succeed, direct violence. A clash of interests, the angry feelings caused by conflicting attempts thus to appropriate a large share, if not all, of the benefits of trade and of distant unsettled commercial regions, led to wars. On the other hand, wars arising from other causes, were significantly altered in their behavior and in control of the sea. Therefore the history of sea power, covering in a broad sense, everything that tends to make a great nation of the sea or of the sea, is largely a military history...
The history of sea power is largely, though by no means solely, a narrative of contests between nations, of mutual rivalries, of violence frequently culminating in war. The profound influence of sea commerce upon the wealth and strength of countries was clearly seen long before the true principles which governed its growth and prosperity were detected. To secure to one's own people a disproportionate share of such benefits, every effort was made to exclude others, either by the peaceful legislative methods of monopoly or prohibitory regulations, or, when these failed, by direct violence. The clash of interests, the angry feelings roused by conflicting attempts thus to appropriate the larger share, if not the whole, of the advantages of commerce, and of distant unsettled commercial regions, led to wars. On the other hand, wars arising from other causes have been greatly modified in their conduct and issue by the control of the sea. Therefore the history of sea power, while embracing in its broad sweep all that tends to make a people great upon the sea or by the sea, is largely a military history...

More confident than the Admiral himself, the finer the tactical development of his fleet, the better his captains, the more reluctant he commanded to enter into a melee with equal forces, in which all these advantages will be discarded. Deprived of the chance to win, and his fleet be placed on terms of equality with the collection of ships that had never acted together.
The surer of himself an admiral is, the finer the tactical development of his fleet, the better his captains, the more reluctant must he necessarily be to enter into a melee with equal forces, in which all these advantages will be thrown away, chance reign supreme, and his fleet be place on terms of equality with an assemblage of ships which have never before acted together.

The study of history lies at the Foundation of all sound military conclusions and practices.
The study of history lies at the foundation of all sound military conclusions and practice.

Only an organized force allows quiet and weak to do their work and peacefully sleeping in their beds, safe from the violence inside the cities.
Organized force alone enables the quiet and the weak to go about their business and to sleep securely in their beds, safe from the violent without or within.

Regardless of whether they want it or not, Americans must now begin to look outward. This requires growing production of the country.
Whether they will or no, Americans must now begin to look outward. The growing production of the country demands it.

Fleet policy influenced by the very fact of its existence.