Robert E. Lee War Quotations

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

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

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.

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

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

...the framers of our Constitution never exhausted so much labor, wisdom and forbearance in its formation if it was intended to be broken up by every member.

Any victory would be dear at such a price.

Such an executive officer the sun never shone on. I have but to show him my design, and I know that it can be done, it will be done...Straight as the needle to the pole he advanced to the execution of my purpose.

I am now considered such a monster, that I hesitate to darken with my shadow, the doors of those I love, lest I should bring upon them misfortune.

Remember, we are all one country now. Dismiss from your mind all sectional feeling, and bring them up to be Americans.

Whither shall I flee? To no country on earth that I know of where there is as much liberty as yet remains to me even in Virginia.

I am as willing to serve now as in the beginning in any capacity and at any post where I can do good. The lower the position, the more suitable to my ability and the more agreeable to my feelings.

We cannot afford to be idle, and though weaker than our opponents in men and military equipments, must endeavor to harass, if we cannot destroy them.

We must enlist our own snake and strike like a cobra against their vitals with an attack on Washington.

I will attack no matter what and win the war!

I believe I may so, looking into my own heart, and speaking as in the presence of God, that I have never know one moment of bitterness or resentment.

Keep steady in the view of the great principles for which you contend. The safety of your homes and the lives of all you hold dear depend upon your courage and exertions. Let each man resolve to be victorious, and that the right of self government, liberty and peace shall find him a defender.

I have thought from the time of the cessation of the hostilities, that silence and patience on the part of the South was the true course; and I think so still. Controversy of all kinds will, in my opinion, only serve to continue excitement and passion, and will prevent the public mind from the acknowledgement and acceptance of the truth.

We must...submit ourselves in adversity to the will of a merciful God as cheerfully as in prosperity.

What a cruel thing is war: to separate and destroy families and friends, and mar the purest joys and happiness God has granted us in this world; to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors, and to devastate the fair face of this beautiful world.

You cannot barter manhood for peace.

I endeavored to give thanks to our Heavenly Father for all his mercies to me, for his preservation of me through all the dangers I have passed, and all the blessings which he has bestowed upon me, for I know I fall far short of my obligations

I did only what my duty demanded. I could have taken no other course without dishonor.

I believe it to be the duty of everyone to unite in the restoration of the country and the reestablishment of peace and harmony.

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.

It is well that war is so terrible. We should grow too fond of it.

All I ever wanted was a Virginia farm, no end of cream and fresh butter and fried chicken - not one fried chicken, or two, but unlimited fried chicken.

I can anticipate no greater calamity for the country than the dissolution of the Union. It would be an accumulation of all the evils we complain of, and I am willing to sacrifice everything but honor for its preservation.

The enemy is here, and if we do not whip him, he will whip us.

We must forgive our enemies. I can truly say that not a day has passed since the war began that I have not prayed for them.

Sir, if you ever presume again to speak disrespectfully of General Grant in my presence, either you or I will sever his connection with this university.

He has lost his left arm, but I my right.

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.

We made a great mistake in the beginning of our struggle, and I fear, in spite of all we can do, it will prove to be a fatal mistake. We appointed all our worst generals to command our armies, and all our best generals to edit the newspapers

We must look to the rising generation for the restoration of the country.

The dominant party cannot reign forever, and truth and justice will prevail at last.

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.

Alabama soldiers, all I ask of you is to keep up with the Texans!

There is no more dangerous experiment than that of undertaking to be one thing before a man's face and another behind his back.

What a beautiful world God, in His loving kindness to His creatures, has given us! What a shame that men endowed with reason and knowledge of right should mar His gifts....

Death, in its silent sure march is fast gathering those whom I have longest loved, so that when he shall knock at my door, I will more willingly follow.

The questions which for years were in dispute between the State and General Government, and which unhappily were not decided by the dictates of reason, but referred to the decision of war, having been decided against us, it is the part of wisdom to acquiesce in the result, and of candor to recognize the fact.

It is glorious to see such courage in one so young.

All this has been my fault.

So far from engaging in a war to perpetuate slavery,I am rejoiced that slavery is abolished.

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...

But what a cruel thing is war to separate and destroy families and friends.

Teach him to deny himself.

I have never witnessed on any previous occasion such entire disregard of the usage of civilized warfare and the dictates of humanity.

General Longstreet,when once in a fight, was a most brilliant soldier; but he was the hardest man to move I had in my army.