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

Robert E. Lee

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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
Taken
War
Without
Dishonor
Demanded
Duty
Courses
Course

More quotes by Robert E. Lee

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Ideas are easy to conceive, less easy to execute.
Robert E. Lee
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I have thought from the time of the cessation of the hostilities, that silence and patience on the part of the South was the true course and I think so still. Controversy of all kinds will, in my opinion, only serve to continue excitement and passion, and will prevent the public mind from the acknowledgement and acceptance of the truth.
Robert E. Lee
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No day should be lived unless it was begun with a prayer of thankfulness and an intercession for guidance.
Robert E. Lee
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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.
Robert E. Lee
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We must forgive our enemies.
Robert E. Lee
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What a glorious world Almighty God has given us. How thankless and ungrateful we are, and how we labor to mar his gifts.
Robert E. Lee
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Every student must be a gentleman.
Robert E. Lee
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It is glorious to see such courage in one so young.
Robert E. Lee
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There are things in the Old Book which I may not be able to explain, but I fully accept it as the infallible Word of God, and receive its teachings as inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Robert E. Lee
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If we do not do this our churches will lighthouses without light, wells without water, dumb witnesses, sleeping watchmen, silent trumpets, messengers without tidings, a comfort for infidels, jubilant joys to the devil, and an offense to God.
Robert E. Lee
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A man may manifest and communicate his joy, but he should conceal and smother his grief as much as possible.
Robert E. Lee
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I will attack no matter what and win the war!
Robert E. Lee
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As a general principle you should not force young men to do their duty, but let them do it voluntarily and thereby develop their characters.
Robert E. Lee
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My chief concern is to try to be an humble, earnest Christian.
Robert E. Lee
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What 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. Lee
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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
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Lee tells his troops. After four years of arduous service marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources.
Robert E. Lee
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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
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The devil's name is dullness.
Robert E. Lee
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Say what you mean to do...and take it for granted you mean to do right. Never do a wrong thing to make a friend or keep one...you will wrong him and wrong yourself by equivocation of any kind.
Robert E. Lee