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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

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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
Military
Risk
Inactivity
Action
Hazard
Must
Hazards
Always
Decide
Activity
Positive
Loss

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The devil's name is dullness.
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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.
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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.
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I will attack no matter what and win the war!
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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.
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There is no more dangerous experiment than that of undertaking to be one thing before a man's face and another behind his back.
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Never do a wrong thing to make a friend or to keep one.
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There are few, I believe, in this enlightened age, who will not acknowledge that slavery as an institution is a moral and political evil.
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All this has been my fault.
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I was too weak to defend, so I attacked
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We cannot afford to be idle, and though weaker than our opponents in men and military equipments, must endeavor to harass, if we cannot destroy them.
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My trust is in the mercy and wisdom of a kind Providence, who ordereth all things for our good.
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Traveler is my only companion I may also say my pleasure. He and I, whenever practicable, wander out in the mountains and enjoy sweet confidence.
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So far from engaging in a war to perpetuate slavery, I am rejoiced that Slavery is abolished. I believe it will be greatly for the interest of the South. So fully am I satisfied of this that I would have cheerfully lost all that I have lost by the war, and have suffered all that I have suffered to have this object attained.
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I did only what my duty demanded. I could have taken no other course without dishonor.
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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.
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A land without memories is a people without liberty.
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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.
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A Union that can only be maintained by swords and bayonets, and in which strife and civil war are to take the place of brotherly love and kindness, has no charm for me.
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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.
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