There is always hazard in military activity, but we must decide between the positive loss of inactivity and the risk of action.
Robert E. LeeWhat 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.
Robert E. LeeGeneral Longstreet,when once in a fight, was a most brilliant soldier; but he was the hardest man to move I had in my army.
Robert E. LeeWhy, it appears that we appointed all of our worst generals to command the armies and we appointed all of our best generals to edit the newspapers. I mean, I found by reading a newspaper that these editor generals saw all of the defects plainly from the start but didn't tell me until it was too late. I'm willing to yield my place to these best generals and I'll do my best for the cause by editing a newspaper.
Robert E. Lee