I sincerely desire to be appointed Commander in Chief of the air fleet to attack Pearl Harbor so that I may personally command that attack force. - Isoroku Yamamoto

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I felt from the start that America was not likely to relinquish lightly positions established at the cost of such sacrifices, and I pressed the view that a high degree of preparation and willingness to make sacrifices would be necessary on our side, but everybody here always persists in facile optimism until the very worst actually happens. -Isoroku Yamamoto

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I am continually fascinated at the difficulty intelligent people have in distinguishing what is controversial from what is merely offensive.

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The example afforded before the Great War by Germany - which, if only it had exercised forbearance for another five or ten years, would by now be unrivaled in Europe - suggests that the task facing us now is to build up our strength calmly and with circumspection. - Isoroku Yamamoto

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

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I entered the navy with the great ambition of becoming a naval soldier and going to war. Either I die from this festering wound - because I refuse to have my arm amputated - or I recover from it and continue being a soldier. I have a one-in-two chance, and I shall bet my life on it! - Isoroku Yamamoto

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As long as tides of war are in our favor, the United States will never stop fighting. As a consequence, the war will continue for several years, during which materiel will be exhausted, vessels and arms will be damaged, and they can be replaced only with great difficulties. - Isoroku Yamamoto

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I'm against war with the United States. But I am an officer of the Imperial Navy and a subject of His Majesty the Emperor. - Isoroku Yamamoto

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To fight the United States is like fighting the whole world. But it has been decided. So I will fight the best I can. - Isoroku Yamamoto

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If a war breaks out with the United States, the navy will have to put all its strength into interceptive operations, so... massive sea-borne supplies might be momentarily interrupted. -Isoroku Yamamoto

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