Words matter. These are the best Robert E. Lee Quotes, and they’re great for sharing with your friends.
I have fought against the people of the North because I believed they were seeking to wrest from the South its dearest rights. But I have never cherished toward them bitter or vindictive feelings, and I have never seen the day when I did not pray for them.
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.
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.
The war… was an unnecessary condition of affairs, and might have been avoided if forebearance and wisdom had been practiced on both sides.
If a friend asks a favor, you should grant it if it is reasonable; if not, tell him plainly why you cannot: You will wrong him and wrong yourself by equivocation of any kind.
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.
In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength.
A true man of honor feels humbled himself when he cannot help humbling others.
If you have any fault to find with anyone, tell him, not others, of what you complain; there is no more dangerous experiment than that of undertaking to be one thing before a man’s face and another behind his back.
Never do a wrong thing to make a friend or keep one; the man who requires you to do so is dearly purchased at a sacrifice.
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.
The doctrines & miracles of our Saviour have required nearly two thousand years to convert but a small part of the human race, & even among Christian nations, what gross errors still exist!
It is well that war is so terrible, otherwise we should grow too fond of it.
Say just what you mean to do on every occasion, and take it for granted you mean to do right.
In this enlightened age, there are few I believe, but what will acknowledge, that slavery as an institution is a moral & political evil in any country. It is useless to expatiate on its disadvantages.
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.
We should live, act, and say nothing to the injury of anyone. It is not only best as a matter of principle, but it is the path to peace and honor.
What a cruel thing war is… to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors.
We failed, but in the good providence of God apparent failure often proves a blessing.
Never do a wrong thing to make a friend or to keep one.
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.
The education of a man is never completed until he dies.
Do your duty in all things, like the old Puritan. You cannot do more; you should never wish to do less.
It is good that war is so horrible, or we might grow to like it.
My chief concern is to try to be an humble, earnest Christian.
