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

“Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, Japanese Navy U.S. Naval Historical Center”

“The fiercest serpent may be overcome by a swarm of ants.”

“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.”

“The Great Pacific War”

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

“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.”