Robert E. Lee Quotes

It is well that war is so terrible - we would grow too fond of it.
Robert E. Lee
We have fought this fight as long and as well as we know how. We have been defeated ... there is now but one course to pursue. We must accept the situation.
Robert E. Lee
The devil's name is Dullness.
Robert E. Lee
Abandon your animosities and make your sons Americans!
Robert E. Lee
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.
Robert E. Lee
Let the tent be struck.
Robert E. Lee
We have fought this fight as long and as well as we know how. We have been defeated. There is now but one course to pursue. We must accept the situation.
Robert E. Lee
Why, sir, in the beginning we appointed all our worst generals to command the armies, and all our best generals to edit the newspapers. As you know, I have planned some campaigns and quite a number of battles. I have given the work all the care and thought I could, and sometimes, when my plans were completed, as far as I could see, they seemed to be perfect. But when I have fought them through, I have discovered defects and occasionally wondered I did not see some of the defects in advance. When it was all over, I found by reading a newspaper that these best editor generals saw all the defects plainly from the start. Unfortunately, they did not communicate their knowledge to me until it was too late.” Then, after a pause, he added, with a beautiful, grave expression I can never forget: “I have no ambition but to serve the Confederacy, and do all I can to win our independence. I an willing to serve in any capacity to which the authorities may assign me. I have done the best I could in the field, and have not succeeded as I could wish. I am willing to yield my place to these best generals, and I will do my best for the cause in editing a newspaper.”In the same strain he once remarked to one of his generals: “Even as poor a soldier as I am can generally discover mistakes after it is all over. But if I could only induce these wise gentlemen who see them so clearly beforehand to communicate with me in advance, instead of waiting until the evil has come upon us, to let me know that they knew all the time, it would be far better for my reputation, and (what is of more consequence) far better for the cause.
Robert E. Lee
I like whiskey. I always did, and that is why I never drink it.
Robert E. Lee
All motion is relative. Perhaps it is you who have moved away-by standing still
Robert E. Lee
True patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly contrary, at one period, to that which it does at another, and the motive which impels them the desire to do right is precisely the same.
Robert E. Lee
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.
Robert E. Lee
It is easier to make our wishes conform to our means than to make our means conform to our wishes.
Robert E. Lee
Cadets can neither be treated as schoolboys or soldiers.
Robert E. Lee
They seemed so united that I loved them as one person." Lee wrote of his son and daughter-in-law on his daughter-in-law's death.
Robert E. Lee
The march of Providence is so slow and our desires so impatient; the work of progress so immense and our means of aiding it so feeble; the life of humanity is so long, that of the individual so brief, that we often see only the ebb of the advancing wave and are thus discouraged. It is history that teaches us to hope.
Robert E. Lee
Read history, works of truth, not novels and romances
Robert E. Lee
It is well that war is so terrible, or we should grow too fond of it.
Robert E. Lee
I can only say that I am nothing but a poor sinner, trusting in Christ alone for salvation.
Robert E. Lee
I cannot trust a man to control others who cannot control himself.
Robert E. Lee