Robert E. Lee Quotes about War - Page 2

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

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

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.

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

The framers of our Constitution never exhausted so much labor, wisdom, and forbearance in its formation, and surrounded it with so many guards and securities, if it was intended to be broken by every member of the Confederacy at will.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

All this has been my fault.

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.

Teach him to deny himself.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

Any victory would be dear at such a price.