Ulysses S. Grant Quotes

The natural disposition of most people is to clothe a commander of a large army whom they do not know, with almost superhuman abilities. A large part of the National army, for instance, and most of the press of the country, clothed General Lee with just such qualities, but I had known him personally, and knew that he was mortal; and it was just as well that I felt this.

Labor disgraces no man; unfortunately, you occasionally find men who disgrace labor.

We're teachers, and we have a commitment." "Commitment to what-to live and die in this hellhole, when we can leave and live like other people?

The Southern rebellion was largely the outgrowth of the Mexican war. Nations, like individuals, are punished for their transgressions. We got our punishment in the most sanguinary and expensive war of modern times.

The theory of government changes with general progress.

The long-continued and useful public service and eminent purity of character of the deceased ex-President will be remembered.

... anything is better than indecision. We must decide. If I am wrong, we shall soon find out and can do the other thing. But not to decide wastes both time and money and may ruin everything.

If men make war in slavish observance of rules, they will fail. No rules will apply to conditions of war as different as those which exist in Europe and America...War is progressive, because all the instruments and elements of war are progressive.

The distant rear of an army engaged in battle is not the best place from which to judge correctly what is going on in front.

I only knew what was in my mind, and I wished to express it clearly

No theory of my own will ever stand in the way of my executing, in good faith, any order I may receive from those in authority over me.

I desire the good-will of all, whether hitherto my friends or not.

The great bulk of the legal voters of the South were men who owned no slaves; their homes were generally in the hills and poor country; their facilities for educating their children, even up to the point of reading and writing, were very limited; their interest in the contest was very meagre--what there was, if they had been capable of seeing it, was with the North; they too needed emancipation.

If you see the President, tell him from me that whatever happens there will be no turning back.

I appreciate the fact, and am proud of it, that the attentions I am receiving are intended more for our country than for me personally.

I believe that our Great Maker is preparing the world, in His own good time, to become one nation, speaking one language, and when armies and navies will be no longer required.

War is progressive because all instruments of war are progressive.

I read the story and reread the story, but I still could not find the universality that the little Irishman had spoken of. All I saw in the story was some Irishmen meeting in a room and talking politics. What had that to do with America, especially with my people? It was not until years later that I saw what he meant ... I began to listen, to listen closely to how they talked about their heroes, to how they talked about the dead and how great the dead had once been. I heard it everywhere.

Hold fast to the Bible. To the influence of this Book we are indebted for all the progress made in true civilization and to this we must look as our guide in the future.

Lee's army will be your objective point. Wherever Lee goes, there you will go also.

It does look like a very good exercise. But what is the little white ball for?

Really, Mr. Lincoln, I have had enough of this show business.

I would suggest the taxation of all property equally, whether church or corporation, exempting only the last resting place of the dead and possibly, with proper restrictions, church edifices.

In politics I am growing indifferent - I would like it, if I could now return to my planting and books at home

...but for a soldier his duty is plain. He is to obey the orders of all those placed over him and whip the enemy wherever he meets him.

There is nothing more I should do to it now, and therefore I am not likely to be more ready to go than at this moment.

There never was a time when, in my opinion, some way could not be found to prevent the drawing of the sword.

No other terms than unconditional and immediate surrender. I propose to move immediately upon your works.

It was my fortune, or misfortune, to be called to the office of Chief Executive without any previous political training.

Let no guilty man escape, if it can he avoided. . . . No personal consideration should stand in the way of performing a public duty.

I know only two tunes: one of them is "Yankee Doodle" and the other isn't.

I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer.

Jesse has a new dog. You may have noticed that his former pets have been peculiarly unfortunate. When this dog dies every employee in the White House will be at once discharged.

Let no guilty man escape if it can be avoided. Be specially vigilant-or instruct those engaged in the prosecution of fraud to be-against all who insinuate that they have high influence to protect-or to protect them. No personal consideration should stand in the way of performing a public duty.

Declare church and state forever separate and distinct; but each free within their proper spheres.

Retreat? NO. I propose to attach at daylight and whip them.

I will not move my army without onions.

It will be all right if it turns out all right.

The United States, knowing no distinction of her own citizens on account of religion or nationality, naturally believes in a civilization the world over which will secure the same universal laws.

I know no method to secure the repeal of bad or obnoxious laws so effective as their stringent execution.

I never knew what to do with a paper except to put it in a side pocket or pass it to a clerk who understood it better than I did.

Wars produce many stories of fiction, some of which are told until they are believed to be true.

There are but two parties now: traitors and patriots. And I want hereafter to be ranked with the latter and, I trust, the stronger party.

The one thing I never want to see again is a military parade. When I resigned from the army and went to a farm I was happy. When the rebellion came, I returned to the service because it was a duty. I had no thought of rank; all I did was try and make.

There are but few important events in the affairs of men brought about by their own choice.

In 1856...I preferred the success of a candidate whose election would prevent or postpone secession, to seeing the country plunged into a war the end of which no man could foretell. With a Democrat elected by the unanimous vote of the Slave States, there could be no pretext for secession for four years.... I therefore voted for James Buchanan as President.

Everyone has his superstitions. One of mine has always been when I started to go anywhere, accomplished.

Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet-anchor of your liberties; write its precepts in your hearts, and practice them in your lives.