That really is shocking . Jesus christ , man . <| sep |> Yes , the most wellknown Quaker in recent times was that paragon of pacifism , president Richard Nixon . Funny story Quakers profess pacifism , refuse to get into fights . During one of the many wars between the French and English , there was a very large , burly Quaker who was a passenger on a ship that was attacked by the French . As the battle raged , he walked up and down the deck quietly praying instead of helping out . Finaly the two ships came side by side the French started to swing over with ropes onto the English boat . The leader of the boarding party landed on the deck directly in front of the Quaker . He immediately grabbed the French sailor in a big bear hug , said to him Friend , thou hast no business here , walked over and dropped him over the side .