Quote

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

Robert E. Lee

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Robert E. Lee
Age: 63 †
Born: 1807
Born: January 19
Died: 1870
Died: October 12
Military Officer
Slaveholder
Robert Edward Lee
General Lee
General R. E. Lee
General Robert E. Lee
Robert E.
General Lee
Robert E Lee
R. E. Lee
Gen. Robert Edward Lee
Course
Taken
War
Without
Dishonor
Demanded
Duty
Courses

More quotes by Robert E. Lee

Image
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.
Robert E. Lee
Image
All this has been my fault.
Robert E. Lee
Image
I like whiskey. I always did, and that is why I never drink it.
Robert E. Lee
Image
My chief concern is to try to be an humble, earnest Christian.
Robert E. Lee
Image
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.
Robert E. Lee
Image
All that the South has ever desired was that the Union, as established by our forefathers, should be preserved, and that the government as originally organized should be administered in purity and truth.
Robert E. Lee
Image
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.
Robert E. Lee
Image
Duty, then is the sublimest word in our language. Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more you should never wish to do less.
Robert E. Lee
Image
No blame can be attached to the army for its failure to accomplish what was projected by me... I alone am to blame, in perhaps expecting too much of its prowess and valor... could I have foreseen that the attack on the last day would fail, I should certainly have tried some other course... but I do not know what better course I could have pursued.
Robert E. Lee
Image
For I consider the character of no man affected by a want of success, provided he has made an honest effort to succeed.
Robert E. Lee
Image
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.
Robert E. Lee
Image
He has lost his left arm, but I my right.
Robert E. Lee
Image
I would rather die a thousand deaths than surrender.
Robert E. Lee
Image
Postal officials say that before Christmas they receive tons of letters written to Santa Claus, but after Christmas how few letters of thanks are sent to him! From childhood onward, human beings seem to be characterized by thanklessness.
Robert E. Lee
Image
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.
Robert E. Lee
Image
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
Robert E. Lee
Image
I was too weak to defend, so I attacked
Robert E. Lee
Image
Ideas are easy to conceive, less easy to execute.
Robert E. Lee
Image
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
Robert E. Lee
Image
There is always hazard in military activity, but we must decide between the positive loss of inactivity and the risk of action.
Robert E. Lee