While we see the course of the final abolition of human slavery is onward, & we give it the aid of our prayers & all justifiable means in our power, we must leave the progress as well as the result in his hands who sees the end; who chooses to work by slow influences; & with whom two thousand years are but as a single day.
— Robert E. Lee
Do your duty in all things, like the old Puritan. You cannot do more; you should never wish to do less.
If a friend asks a favor, you should grant it if it is reasonable; if not, tell him plainly why you cannot: You will wrong him and wrong yourself by equivocation of any kind.
A Union that can only be maintained by swords and bayonets has no charm for me. If the Union is dissolved and government disrupted, I shall return to my native state and share the miseries of my people, and save in defense will draw my sword on none.
We must expect reverses, even defeats. They are sent to teach us wisdom and prudence, to call forth greater energies, and to prevent our falling into greater disasters.
I cannot trust a man to control others who cannot control himself.
The war... was an unnecessary condition of affairs, and might have been avoided if forebearance and wisdom had been practiced on both sides.
Never do a wrong thing to make a friend or to keep one.
A true man of honor feels humbled himself when he cannot help humbling others.
We should live, act, and say nothing to the injury of anyone. It is not only best as a matter of principle, but it is the path to peace and honor.
I have fought against the people of the North because I believed they were seeking to wrest from the South its dearest rights. But I have never cherished toward them bitter or vindictive feelings, and I have never seen the day when I did not pray for them.
The doctrines & miracles of our Saviour have required nearly two thousand years to convert but a small part of the human race, & even among Christian nations, what gross errors still exist!
If you have any fault to find with anyone, tell him, not others, of what you complain; there is no more dangerous experiment than that of undertaking to be one thing before a man's face and another behind his back.
Say just what you mean to do on every occasion, and take it for granted you mean to do right.
The trite saying that honesty is the best policy has met with the just criticism that honesty is not policy. The real honest man is honest from conviction of what is right, not from policy.
I think it better to do right, even if we suffer in so doing, than to incur the reproach of our consciences and posterity.
It is good that war is so horrible, or we might grow to like it.
I like whiskey. I always did, and that is why I never drink it.
I have been up to see the Congress and they do not seem to be able to do anything except to eat peanuts and chew tobacco, while my army is starving.
It is well that war is so terrible, otherwise we should grow too fond of it.
In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength.
I tremble for my country when I hear of confidence expressed in me. I know too well my weakness, that our only hope is in God.
In this enlightened age, there are few I believe, but what will acknowledge, that slavery as an institution is a moral & political evil in any country. It is useless to expatiate on its disadvantages.
Never do a wrong thing to make a friend or keep one; the man who requires you to do so is dearly purchased at a sacrifice.
You must study to be frank with the world: Frankness is the child of honesty and courage.
Get correct views of life, and learn to see the world in its true light. It will enable you to live pleasantly, to do good, and, when summoned away, to leave without regret.
Obedience to lawful authority is the foundation of manly character.
My chief concern is to try to be an humble, earnest Christian.
We have fought this fight as long, and as well as we know how. We have been defeated. For us as a Christian people, there is now but one course to pursue. We must accept the situation.
The devil's name is dullness.
We failed, but in the good providence of God apparent failure often proves a blessing.
The education of a man is never completed until he dies.
What a cruel thing war is... to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors.
