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 More Quotes by Ulysses S. Grant More Quotes From Ulysses S. Grant No other terms than unconditional and immediate surrender. I propose to move immediately upon your works. Ulysses S. Grant surrenderunconditional-lovemoving I believe that our Great Maker is preparing the world, in His own good time, to become one nation, speaking one language, and when armies and navies will be no longer required. Ulysses S. Grant navyarmybelieve When news of the surrender first reached our lines our men commenced firing a salute of a hundred guns in honor of the victory. I at once sent word, however, to have it stopped. The Confederates were now our prisoners, and we did not want to exult over their downfall. Ulysses S. Grant gunmenwar Generally the officers of the army were indifferent whether the annexation [of Texas] was consummated or not; but not so all of them. For myself, I was bitterly opposed to the measure, and to this day regard the war, which resulted, as one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation. It was an instance of a republic following the bad example of European monarchies, in not considering justice in their desire to acquire additional territory. Ulysses S. Grant armytexaswar Oh, I am heartily tired of hearing about what Lee is going to do. Some of you always seem to think he is suddenly going to turn a double somersault, and land in our rear and on both of our flanks at the same time. Go back to your command, and try to think what are we going to do ourselves, instead of what Lee is going to do. Ulysses S. Grant tiredwarthinking Lee's army will be your objective point. Wherever Lee goes, there you will go also. Ulysses S. Grant civil-wararmywar The United States, knowing no distinction of her own citizens on account of religion or nationality, naturally believes in a civilization the world over which will secure the same universal laws. Ulysses S. Grant lawcivilizationbelieve You can violate the law. The banks may violate the law and be sustained in doing so. But the President of the United States cannot violate the law. Ulysses S. Grant united-statespresidentlaw 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 bad-assmilitarywar There are many men who would have done better than I did under the circumstances in which I found myself. If I had never held command, if I had fallen, there were 10,000 behind who would have followed the contest to the end and never surrendered the Union. Ulysses S. Grant unionsdonemen I never knew what to do with a paper except to put it in a side pocket or pass it to a clerk who understood it better than I did. Ulysses S. Grant pocketsclerkswar One of my superstitions had always been when I started to go anywhere or do anything, not to turn back, or stop until the thing intended was accomplished. I have frequently started to go places where I had never been and to which I did not know the way, depending upon making inquiries on the road, and if I got past the place without knowing it, instead of turning back, I would go until a road was found turning in the right direction, take that, and come in by the other side. Ulysses S. Grant inquiryknowingpast The cause of the great War of the Rebellion against the United Status will have to be attributed to slavery. Ulysses S. Grant slaverycauseswar It does look like a very good exercise. But what is the little white ball for? Ulysses S. Grant whiteexercisegolf Let no guilty man escape, if it can he avoided. . . . No personal consideration should stand in the way of performing a public duty. Ulysses S. Grant guiltmenway In 1850, I believe, the church property in the United States, which paid no tax, amounted to $87 million. In 1900, without a check, it is safe to say, this property will reach a sum exceeding $3 billion. I would suggest the taxation of all property equally. Ulysses S. Grant atheismbelievereligion It is preposterous to suppose that the people of one generation can lay down the best and only rules of government for all who are to come after them, and under unforeseen contingencies. Ulysses S. Grant generationsgovernmentpeople The Southern rebellion was largely the outgrowth of the Mexican war. Nations, like individuals, are punished for their transgressions. We got our punishment in the most sanguinary and expensive war of modern times. Ulysses S. Grant punishmentmexicanwar My family is American, and has been for generations, in all its branches, direct and collateral Ulysses S. Grant generationsfamilybook Really, Mr. Lincoln, I have had enough of this show business. Ulysses S. Grant had-enoughshowswar
