Robert E. Lee

“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.”

“I can only say that I am nothing but a poor sinner, trusting in Christ alone for salvation.”

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

“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 education of a man is never completed until he dies.”

“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.”

“While we see the course of the final abolition of human slavery is onward, & we give it the aid of our prayers & all justifiable means in our power, we must leave the progress as well as the result in his hands who sees the end; who chooses to work by slow influences; & with whom two thousand years are but as a single day.”

“Cadets can neither be treated as schoolboys or soldiers.”

“Read history, works of truth, not novels and romances”

“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.”

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

“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.”

“Obedience to lawful authority is the foundation of manly character.”

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

“I think it better to do right, even if we suffer in so doing, than to incur the reproach of our consciences and posterity.”

“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.”

“Say just what you mean to do on every occasion, and take it for granted you mean to do right.”

“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.”

“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 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.”