There is always hazard in military activity, but we must decide between the positive loss of inactivity and the risk of action. Robert E. Lee More Quotes by Robert E. Lee More Quotes From Robert E. Lee A nation which does not remember what it was yesterday does not know where it is today. Robert E. Lee libertyyesterdayhistory So far from engaging in a war to perpetuate slavery, I am rejoiced that Slavery is abolished. I believe it will be greatly for the interest of the South. So fully am I satisfied of this that I would have cheerfully lost all that I have lost by the war, and have suffered all that I have suffered to have this object attained. Robert E. Lee slaverywarbelieve Mr. Blair, I look upon secession as anarchy. If I owned the four millions of slaves in the South, I would sacrifice them all to the Union; but how can I draw my sword upon Virginia, my native State? Robert E. Lee menwarhistory There are few, I believe, in this enlightened age, who will not acknowledge that slavery as an institution is a moral and political evil. Robert E. Lee politicalevilbelieve A land without memories is a people without liberty. Robert E. Lee landmilitarymemories Remember, we are all one country now. Dismiss from your mind all sectional feeling, and bring them up to be Americans. Robert E. Lee feelingswarcountry Let us pray for ourselves, that we may not lose the word “concern” out of our Christian vocabulary. Let us pray for our nation. Let us pray for those who have never known Jesus Christ and redeeming love, for moral forces everywhere, for our national leaders. Let prayer be our passion. Let prayer be our practice. Robert E. Lee prayerchristianjesus So far from engaging in a war to perpetuate slavery, I am rejoiced that slavery is abolished. Robert E. Lee engagingslaverywar I believe it to be the duty of everyone to unite in the restoration of the country and the reestablishment of peace and harmony. Robert E. Lee warbelievecountry With all my devotion to the Union, and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American citizen, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand against my relative, my children, my home. I have, therefore, resigned my commission in the Army. Robert E. Lee loyaltywarchildren In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength. Robert E. Lee failurestrengthbible I have always observed that wherever you find the negro, everything is going down around him, and wherever you find the white man, you see everything around him improving. Robert E. Lee white-manwhitemen I can only say that I am nothing but a poor sinner, trusting in Christ alone for salvation. Robert E. Lee civil-warpoorchrist My experiences of men has neither disposed me to think worse of them nor be indisposed to serve them: nor, in spite of failures which I lament, of errors which I now see and acknowledge, or the present aspect of affairs, do I despair of the future. The truth is this: 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 menmeanthinking All that the South has ever desired was that the Union, as established by our forefathers, should be preserved, and that the government as originally organized should be administered in purity and truth. Robert E. Lee unionsgovernmentpurity I cannot trust a man to control others who cannot control himself. Robert E. Lee trustinspiringmotivational The consolidation of the states into one vast empire, sure to be aggressive abroad and despotic at home, will be the certain precursor of ruin which has overwhelmed all that preceded it. Robert E. Lee empiresruinshome Shake off those gloomy feelings. Drive them away. Fix your mind and pleasures upon what is before you.All is bright if you will think it so. All is happy if you will make it so. Do not dream. It is too ideal, too imaginary. Dreaming by day, I mean. Live in the world you inhabit. Look upon things as they are. Take them as you find them. Make the best of them. Turn them to your advantage. Robert E. Lee dreammeanthinking The enemy never sees the backs of my Texans! Robert E. Lee texanenemy I have fought against the people of the North because I believed they were seeking to wrest from the South dearest rights. But I have never cherished toward them bitter or vindictive feelings. And have never seen the day when I did not pray for them. Robert E. Lee rightsfeelingspeople
