Once upon a sea...

And, as my erudition was essentially nourished by anecdotes, I told him one suitably in keeping with his passion and our haven in the carcass of an old boat. Once on a perilous sea an English warship met a French vessel, and before embarking on a battle with no quarter, the English captain addressed his historic enemies, cupping his hands around his mouth: "You, Frenchmen, fight for money. But we, subjects of the Queen, we fight for honour!" Then from the French vessel this jovial riposte of the captain's could be heard blowing across in a gust of salt wind: Each man fights for what he does not have, sir!"

- Dreams of My Russian Summers
  Andreï Makine