Quotes / Burning the Ships

"I demolish my bridges behind me... then there is no choice but to move forward."

— Fridtjof Nansen

Throw your troops into situations where there is no escape, where they will die before escaping.
When they are about to die, what can they not do?
They will exert their full strength.
When the troops are in desperate situations, they fear nothing;
having penetrated deep in enemy ground, they are united.
When there are no other alternatives, they will fight.

— The Art of War, chapter XI: The Nine Situations

"When he reached the New World, Cortez burned his ships. As a result, his men were well-motivated."

— Captain Marko Ramius, The Hunt for Red October

"What I have left behind I count now no loss; needless baggage on the road it has proved. Let those that cursed my name, curse me still, and whine their way back to the cages of the Valar! Let the ships burn!"

— Fëanor, The Silmarillion

Mr. Krabs: Then I guess I have no choice but to offer a reward.
Squidward: You're kidding.
SpongeBob: Woo! Is it another fishing trip?
Mr. Krabs: No. It's this sandwich. (nails it to the mast)
Squidward: A sandwich? You expect me to break my back over a sandwich?!
Mr. Krabs: Not a sandwich. The sandwich! (pours a plateful of sandwiches overboard)
Squidward: Whatever. We've got plenty more to—
Mr. Krabs: (throws the entire refrigerator overboard)
Squidward: ...eat.
Mr. Krabs: Now I think we understand each other! Nobody eats until I get my millionth dollar back!

— SpongeBob SquarePants, "Clams"

When they thought that they were at length prepared for this undertaking, they set fire to all their towns, in number about twelve—to their villages about four hundred—and to the private dwellings that remained; they burn up all the corn, except what they intend to carry with them; that after destroying the hope of a return home, they might be the more ready for undergoing all dangers.

— Julius Caesar, Commentaries on the Gallic War, book I, ch. 5

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