Jack Aubrey What's the butcher's bill?
Most-quoted character in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003): in 18 of its 25 quotes
Most scenes with: Joseph Nagle (5), Stephen Maturin (2)
Down! Down! Everyone down!!
More lines from Jack Aubrey
11 quotes Jack Aubrey Jack Aubrey Inquiring about casualties
Jack Aubrey Do you not know that in the service … one must always choose the lesser of two weevils?
Jack Aubrey Men must be governed. Often not wisely, I will grant you, but they must be governed nonetheless.
Jack Aubrey Name a shrub after me – something prickly and hard to eradicate.
Jack Aubrey This is the second time he's done this to me. There will not be a third.
Jack Aubrey What is it with this man, did I kill a relative of his in battle perhaps? His boy, God forbid?
Jack Aubrey For England, for home, and for the prize!
Jack Aubrey Right lads, now, I know there's not a faint heart among you, and I know you're as anxious as I am to get into close action. But we must bring them right up beside us before we spring this trap. That will test our nerve, and discipline will count just as much as courage. The Acheron is a tough nut to crack … more than twice our guns, more than twice our numbers, and they will sell their lives dearly. Topmen, your handling of the sheets to be lubberly and un-navy like. Until the signal calls, you're to spill the wind from our sails, this will bring us almost to a complete stop. Gun crews, you must run out and tie down in double quick time. With the rear wheels removed, you've gained elevation, but without recoil, there'll be no chance for re-load, so gun captains, that gives you one shot from the larboard battery … one shot only. You'll fire for her mainmast. Much will depend on your accuracy … however … even crippled, she will still be dangerous, like a wounded beast. Captain Howard and the marines will sweep their weather deck with swivel gun and musket fire from the tops. They'll try and even the odds for us before we board. They mean to take us as a prize. And we are worth more to them undamaged. Their greed … will be their downfall. England is under threat of invasion, and though we be on the far side of the world, this ship is our home. This ship is England. So it's every hand to his rope or gun, quick's the word and sharp's the action. After all, Surprise is on our side.
Jack Aubrey Down! All hands down!
Jack Aubrey We do not have time for your dammed hobbies, sir!
Scenes with Jack Aubrey
6 scenes
By comparison, the Surprise is a somewhat aged man-o-war. Am I not correct?
Capt. Jack Aubrey Would you call me an aged man-o-war, doctor? The Surprise is not old; no one would call her old. She has a bluff bow, lovely lines. She's a fine sea-boat: weatherly, stiff and fast … very fast, if she's well handled. No, she's not old; she's in her prime.
Sailing Master John Allen Well, we can patch up the main and mizzen, the foresail's too far gone, I'm afraid, so we'll bend our spare.
Lt. Thomas Pullings Mr. Lamb is confident, with basic repairs we can get home as we are--
Capt. Jack Aubrey We're not going home.
Sailing Master John Allen [Everyone in the room freezes in awkward silence]
But, to refit, we need a port, and the Acheron may be still be looking for us.
Capt. Jack Aubrey We can refit at sea. Here. We're at shoals. As you said, Mr. Allen, she is taking the war to the south seas, and we are supposed to stop her.
Sailing Master John Allen But, Sir, with respect, she's a vastly heavier ship. She's out of our class. She could be halfway to Cape Horn by the time we're repaired and under way.
Capt. Jack Aubrey Well, then, there's not a moment to lose.
Capt. Jack Aubrey Well, Stephen … the bird's flightless?
Yes.
Capt. Jack Aubrey It's not going anywhere.
Capt. Jack Aubrey [Toasting]
To wives and sweethearts.
Officers
To wives and sweethearts.
Capt. Jack Aubrey May they never meet.
Capt. Jack Aubrey (After the crew's rate of fire is not satisfactory enough)
Lads, that's not good enough. Remember, we need to fire two broadsides to her one. Do you want to see a guillotine in Piccadilly!?
Crew
No!
Capt. Jack Aubrey Want to call that raggedy-arse Napoleon your king!?
Crew
No!
Capt. Jack Aubrey You want your children to sing the "La Marseillaise!?"
Crew
No!
Capt. Jack Aubrey Mr. Mowett, Mr. Pullings, starboard battery!
Capt. Jack Aubrey [Capt. Aubrey is briefing his officers]
Right! From now on, no sirs, no salutes, no ayes, no whistles, no bells.
Officers
[as one man]
Aye, sir.
Excuse me, Sir?
Capt. Jack Aubrey Remove your hat, Blakeney. We're whalers here.
Capt. Jack Aubrey Yes, yes.
Mr. Calamy says I'm not in the boarding party, I want to say...
Capt. Jack Aubrey I know what you want to say. My answer is no. [Blakeney lowers his head in disappointment] You'll lead your gun crew and then when we board, you'll take command of the ship from here on the quarterdeck. Do I make myself clear?
Take command of the ship? Thank you, Sir.
