Burn the Ships Quote

burn the ships quote

“Burn the ships” is a famous quote from the ancient Romans, and it has been attributed to Julius Caesar. The words were used when Julius Caesar set out on an expedition to conquer England by water. However, as he approached the English shores, he found that his soldiers were retreating due to fears. This made him decide to burn all the ships to send a message to his enemies and his soldiers. This action convinced his men to commit 100% to the mission.

Cortez’s command to burn the ships

The Spanish Conquistador Hernando Cortez landed in Mexico in 1519 with one purpose in mind – to seize the Aztec treasures. However, in a far different context, Alexander the Great was leading a fleet of ships across the Dardanelles Straits and he commanded his men to burn the ships to inspire his troops. In fact, the practice of burning ships was centuries old, and is often used to describe the conquest of empires.

Although the command to burn the ships was a bit implausible, the strategy did achieve its goal. It provided a sense of “do or die” and made the men fight harder. However, it was not without a few unfavorable effects.

Alexander the Great’s burning of his ships

Alexander the Great’s burning of his ships is one of the most well-known events in history. It is a symbol of his rise to power. It was a sign of his determination to win and to show that he was the greatest ruler ever. However, the Greek revolt caused him great grief. In response, he sent money to Antipater to help put down the rebellion. When he learned that the Greeks were defeated, he proclaimed the end of the “Hellenic Crusade.” Afterward, he discharged all the Greek forces in his army, as he no longer needed them.

The burning of his ships was an important part of Alexander the Great’s strategy to conquer the Persian Empire. Although the strategy seemed implausible, Alexander achieved his objectives. The burning of his ships prevented them from reversing their course of attack and forced Alexander’s men into battle.

Elisha’s way of burning the ships

Elisha’s way of burning the boats is a powerful metaphor for the point where we are bound to make a decision and can’t go back. In a postmodern and post-Christian culture, where there is little consensus about right and wrong, “burning the ships” is a very real metaphor. It was in this culture that Jezebel and Ahab flourished. These people rooted their faith in fanaticism and fear.

The king of Syria, who had tried to capture the Israelites on several occasions, became furious and enraged. He believed that one of his men had been revealing battle plans to the Israelites.

Julius Caesar’s way of burning the boats

When his army reaches Gaul, he is surprised to discover that the Gauls are allied with the Germans. This makes him decide to advance and take action. When the Germans begin to attack, Caesar sends his cavalry in advance. The Germans are unable to defend their lands and ask for three days to do so. To keep them from being attacked, he promises not to advance more than four miles. In return, the Germans send a message to Caesar saying that they are prepared to fight if Caesar attacks them.

While the word ‘burning’ suggests an act of vengeance, it is not clear whether Julius meant this as punishment or a warning. The words were written in Greek and were probably a shock to Brutus. If the Greek word meant “pay” in his native tongue, it could be an omen that Brutus would pay for his crime in the future.