The manager of the Central Station who is on board the steamer with Marlowe heading up the Congo River to find Kurtz makes this statement.

The situation is as follows: The crew awakes to find the river shrouded in an unmoving white fog. Marlowe hears "desolate" and unearthly cries and screams. When the fog lifts temporarily, they see natives on the shoreline. Then the fog descends again.

The manager complains that if they don't move forward they will lose a day of travel, and they need to get to Kurtz. However, he says he will leave the decision about whether to stay put or go completely up to Marlowe. The manager states: "I authorize you to take all the risks." The manager says this to pass all the blame to Marlowe for whatever happens. If they delay and arrive too late at Kurtz's station, it will be Marlowe's fault. If they move forward and sink the ship, it will be Marlowe's fault.

Marlowe has the sense to understand that it would be a terrible mistake to try to move forward when they are so blinded by the fog and could easily crash and be attacked by the screaming natives. Marlowe doesn't think, however, the natives will attack them on the water in the fog.

As the boat approaches Kurtz's station, the men see natives gathering on the banks of the river. Fearing they will attack, the manager tells Marlow that he is "authoriz[ing] him to take all the risks" by making a pre-emptive attack on them. Marlow, however, responds with, "I refuse to take any."