I don't underrate the value of military knowledge, but if men make war in slavish obedience to rules, they will fail. Ulysses S. Grant More Quotes by Ulysses S. Grant More Quotes From Ulysses S. Grant Encourage free schools and resolve that not one dollar appropriated for their support shall be appropriated to the support of any sectarian schools. Resolve that neither the state nor nation, nor both combined, shall support institutions of learning other than those sufficient to afford every child growing up in the land of opportunity of a good common school education, unmixed with sectarian, pagan, or atheistical dogmas. Leave the matter of religion to the family altar, the church and the private school supported entirely by private contributions. Keep the church and state forever separate. Ulysses S. Grant growing-upchildrenschool It will be all right if it turns out all right. Ulysses S. Grant turnscivil-warwar Quit thinking about what Bobby Lee's gonna do to us and start thinking about what we're going to do to him. Ulysses S. Grant warhistorythinking I leave comparisons to history, claiming only that I have acted in every instance from a conscientious desire to do what was right, constitutional, within the law, and for the very best interests of the whole people. Failures have been errors of judgment, not of intent. Ulysses S. Grant errorslawpeople There are but few important events in the affairs of men brought about by their own choice. Ulysses S. Grant important-eventschoicesmen The great bulk of the legal voters of the South were men who owned no slaves; their homes were generally in the hills and poor country; their facilities for educating their children, even up to the point of reading and writing, were very limited; their interest in the contest was very meagre--what there was, if they had been capable of seeing it, was with the North; they too needed emancipation. Ulysses S. Grant readingcountrychildren Two commanders on the same field are always one too many. Ulysses S. Grant fieldsleadershiptwo The cause of the great War of the Rebellion against the United States will have to be attributed to slavery. For some years before the war began it was a trite saying among some politicians that "A state half slave and half free cannot exist." All must become slave or all free, or the state will go down. I took no part myself in any such view of the case at the time, but since the war is over, reviewing the whole question, I have come to the conclusion that the saying is quite true. Ulysses S. Grant viewswaryears There never was a time when, in my opinion, some way could not be found to prevent the drawing of the sword. Ulysses S. Grant drawingopinionway How do people come up with a date and a time to take life from another man? . . . Twelve white men say a black man must die, and another white man sets the date and time without consulting one black person. . . . They sentence you to death because you were at the wrong place at the wrong time, with no proof that you had anything at all to do with the crime . . . . Yet six months later they come and unlock your cage and tell you, We, us, white folks all, have decided it's time for you to die, because this is the convenient date and time. Ulysses S. Grant white-manmenpeople A hero does for others. He would do anything for people he loves, because he knows it would make their lives better. I am not that kind of person, but I want you to be. You could give something to her, to me, to those children in the quarter. You could give something I never could ... The white people out there are saying you don't have it-that you're a hog, not a man. But I know they are wrong. Ulysses S. Grant herolove-ischildren I have never advocated war except as a means of peace. Ulysses S. Grant patrioticwarmean ...I never heard him abuse an enemy. Some of the cruel things said about President Lincoln, particularly in the North, used to pierce him to the heart; but never in my presence did he evince a revengeful disposition. Ulysses S. Grant heartwarenemy Venice would be a fine city if it were only drained. Ulysses S. Grant venicecitieswould-be I would like to call your attention to ... an evil that, if allowed to continue, will probably lead to great trouble ... It is the accumulation of vast amounts of untaxed church property. Ulysses S. Grant atheismchurchevil It is men who wait to be selected, and not those who seek, from whom we may expect the most efficient service. Ulysses S. Grant patrioticwaitingmen I will not move my army without onions. Ulysses S. Grant armyfoodmoving The fact is I think I am a verb instead of a personal pronoun. A verb is anything that signifies to be; to do; or to suffer. I signify all three. Ulysses S. Grant threesufferingthinking But my later experience has taught me two lessons: first, that things are seen plainer after the events have occurred; second, that the most confident critics are generally those who know the least about the matter criticised. Ulysses S. Grant eventslessonstwo If you see the President, tell him from me that whatever happens there will be no turning back. Ulysses S. Grant no-turning-backwhatever-happenspresident
