Quotes from Robert E. Lee

It is history that teaches us to hope.

History teaches us hope.

No day should be lived unless it was begun with a prayer of thankfulness and an intercession for guidance.

I can only say that I am nothing but a poor sinner, trusting in Christ alone for salvation.

Respect is based on Friendship,and friendship is based on love and love is so accidental isn't it ?

I cannot trust a man to control others who cannot control himself.

It is well that war is so terrible, otherwise we should grow too fond of it.

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.

The biggest mistake of my life was taking a military education.

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.

This war is not about slavery.

The war... was an unnecessary condition of affairs, and might have been avoided if forebearance and wisdom had been practiced on both sides.

What a cruel thing war is... to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors.

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 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.

Strike the tent.

It is good that war is so horrible, or we might grow to like it.

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.

Duty is the sublimest word in the language. You can never do more than your duty. You should never wish to do less.

Duty then is the sublimest word in the English language. You should do your duty in all things. You can never do more. You should never wish to do less.

Let the tent be struck.

My experience through life has convinced me that, while moderation and temperance in all things are commendable and beneficial, abstinence from spirituous liquors is the best safeguard of morals and health.

Still a Union that can only be maintained by swords and bayonets, and in which strife and civil war are to take the place of brotherly love and kindness, has no charm for me.

There is a terrible war coming, and these young men who have never seen war cannot wait for it to happen, but I tell you, I wish that I owned every slave in the South, for I would free them all to avoid this war.