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England has not had such an escape since the Spanish Armada, and that…

Quote byWolfe Tone · 1763–1798

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Diary entry recording the failure of the French expedition to Ireland (26 December 1796), quoted in T. W. Moody, R. B. McDowell and C. J. Woods (eds.), The Writings of Theobald Wolfe Tone, 1763–98, Volume II: America, France and Bantry Bay, August 1795 to December 1796 (2001), p. 432.

English (original)

England has not had such an escape since the Spanish Armada, and that expedition, like ours, was defeated by the weather; the elements fight against us, and courage is here of no avail. Well, let me think no more about it; it is lost, and let it go. I am now a Frenchman and must regulate my future plans accordingly.

— Wolfe Tone

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