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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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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
Principles
Force
Voluntarily
Young
Thereby
Character
Principle
Men
Develop
Characters
General
Duty

More quotes by 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.
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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.
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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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The enemy is here, and if we do not whip him, he will whip us.
Robert E. Lee
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A nation which does not remember what it was yesterday does not know where it is today.
Robert E. Lee
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I consider the proper education of our youths one of the most important objects now to be attained and one from which the greatest benefits may be expected.
Robert E. Lee
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We must...submit ourselves in adversity to the will of a merciful God as cheerfully as in prosperity.
Robert E. Lee
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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
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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
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Marry...into a family that will enable your children to feel proud of both sides of the house.
Robert E. Lee
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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.
Robert E. Lee
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You cannot barter manhood for peace.
Robert E. Lee
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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.
Robert E. Lee
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All this has been my fault.
Robert E. Lee
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I think it better to do right, even if we suffer in so doing, than to incur the reproach of our consciences and posterity.
Robert E. Lee
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There is a true glory and a true honor: the glory of duty done--the honor of the integrity of principle.
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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We have but one rule here, and that is that every student must be a gentleman.
Robert E. Lee
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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
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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