A widely circulated abridgment makes a reported Napoleon remark sound more plausible than the full passage. The longer version claims that the qualities needed to command a naval force are easily acquired through experience, then reduces the task largely to navigation because ships cannot hide. That reasoning leaves little place for intelligence, artillery judgment, geography, timing, or political purpose, all of which matter in the preceding diplomacy cases. The attribution also carries a source caveat: another writer recorded the statement as Napoleon's words, rather than Napoleon writing it himself.
Notable Point · 27:22-30:07
A misleading Napoleon quote on naval command
The closing source critique restores the full context of a reported Napoleon remark that treats navigation as the main qualification for naval command.