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It is preposterous to suppose that the people of one generation can lay down the best and only rules of government for all who are to come after them, and under unforeseen contingencies.

Ulysses S. Grant

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Ulysses S. Grant
Age: 63 †
Born: 1822
Born: April 27
Died: 1885
Died: July 23
18Th U.S. President
Explorer
Military Leader
Military Officer
Politician
Slaveholder
Statesperson
Writer
Hiram Ulysses Grant
Ulysses Grant
Ulysses Simpson Grant
U. S. Grant
U.S. Grant
President Grant
General Grant
Ulysses Hiram Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Best
Contingency
Come
Unforeseen
People
Suppose
Lays
Generation
Rules
Generations
Contingencies
Government
Preposterous

More quotes by Ulysses S. Grant

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The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can, and keep moving on.
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I felt like anything rather than rejoicing at the downfall of a foe who had fought so long and valiantly, and had suffered so much for a cause, though that cause was, I believe, one of the worst for which a people ever fought, and one for which there was the least excuse.
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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.
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I'm afraid I'm elected.
Ulysses S. Grant
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The theory of government changes with general progress.
Ulysses S. Grant
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I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer.
Ulysses S. Grant
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It will be all right if it turns out all right.
Ulysses S. Grant
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Oh, I am heartily tired of hearing about what Lee is going to do. Some of you always seem to think he is suddenly going to turn a double somersault, and land in our rear and on both of our flanks at the same time. Go back to your command, and try to think what are we going to do ourselves, instead of what Lee is going to do.
Ulysses S. Grant
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When news of the surrender first reached our lines our men commenced firing a salute of a hundred guns in honor of the victory. I at once sent word, however, to have it stopped. The Confederates were now our prisoners, and we did not want to exult over their downfall.
Ulysses S. Grant
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The right of revolution is an inherent one. When people are oppressed by their government, it is a natural right they enjoy to relieve themselves of oppression, if they are strong enough, whether by withdrawal from it, or by overthrowing it and substituting a government more acceptable.
Ulysses S. Grant
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Let no guilty man escape, if it can he avoided. . . . No personal consideration should stand in the way of performing a public duty.
Ulysses S. Grant
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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.
Ulysses S. Grant
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So vast a sum, receiving all the protection and benefits of the government, without bearing its proportion of the burdens and expenses of the same, will not be looked upon acquiescently by those who have to pay the taxes. . . . I would suggest the taxation of all property equally.
Ulysses S. Grant
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Leave the matter of religion to the family altar, the church, and the private school, supported entirely by private contributions. Keep the church and state forever separate.
Ulysses S. Grant
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God gave us Lincoln and Liberty, let us fight for both.
Ulysses S. Grant
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Two commanders on the same field are always one too many.
Ulysses S. Grant
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I leave comparisons to history, claiming only that I have acted in every instance from a conscientious desire to do what was right, constitutional, within the law, and for the very best interests of the whole people. Failures have been errors of judgment, not of intent.
Ulysses S. Grant
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There are many men who would have done better than I did under the circumstances in which I found myself. If I had never held command, if I had fallen, there were 10,000 behind who would have followed the contest to the end and never surrendered the Union.
Ulysses S. Grant
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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.
Ulysses S. Grant
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If we are to have another contest in the near future of our national existence, I predict that the dividing line will not be Mason and Dixon's but between patriotism and intelligence on the one side, and superstition, ambition and ignorance on the other.
Ulysses S. Grant