Ulysses S. Grant Quotes
No personal consideration should stand in the way of performing a public duty.
No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted. I propose to move immediately upon your works.
Nations, like individuals, are punished for their transgressions.
The right of revolution is an inherent one.
I feel that we are on the eve of a new era.. Let us have peace.
I have made it a rule of my life to trust a man long after other people gave him up, but I don't see how I can ever trust any human being again.
Everyone has his superstitions. One of mine has always been when I started to go anywhere, accomplished.
My failures have been errors in judgment, not of intent.
There never was a time when, in my opinion, some way could not be found to prevent the drawing of the sword.
But for a soldier his duty is plain. He is to obey the orders of all those placed over him and whip the enemy wherever he meets him.
A united determination to do is worth more than divided counsels upon the method of doing.
I have never advocated war except as a means of peace.
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.
If men make war in slavish obedience to rules, they will fail.
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.
I rise only to say that I do not intend to say anything. I thank you for your hearty welcomes and good cheers.
It is men who wait to be selected, and not those who seek, from whom we may expect the most efficient service.
Our conversation grew so pleasant that I almost forgot the object of our meeting.
I appreciate the fact, and am proud of it, that the attentions I am receiving are intended more for our country than for me personally.
Labor disgraces no man; unfortunately, you occasionally find men who disgrace labor.
Although a soldier by profession, I have never felt any sort of fondness for war, and I have never advocated it, except as a means of peace.
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.
The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity.
It is probably well that we had the war when we did. We are better off now than we would have been without it, and have made more rapid progress than we otherwise should have made... But this war was a fearful lesson, and should teach us the necessity of avoiding wars in the future.
I never held a council of war in my life. I heard what men had to say - the stream of talk at headquareters, - but I made up my own mind, and from my written orders my staff got their first knowledge of what was to be done. No living man knew of plans until they matured and decided.
