I have fought against the people of the North because I believed they were seeking to wrest from the South dearest rights. But I have never cherished toward them bitter or vindictive feelings. And have never seen the day when I did not pray for them.

— Robert E. Lee

Robert E. Lee Quotes

There is a terrible war coming, and these young men who have never seen war cannot wait for it to happen, but I tell you, I wish that I owned every slave in the South, for I would free them all to avoid this war.

— COMMONLY MISATTRIBUTED to Robert E. Lee

But what a cruel thing is war to separate and destroy families and friends.

— Robert E. Lee

There is scarcely anything that is right that we cannot hope to accomplish by labor and perseverance. But the first must be earnest and the second unremitting.

— Robert E. Lee

Wisdom is nothing more than healed pain.

— Robert E. Lee

The devil’s name is dullness.

— Robert E. Lee

There is nothing left for me to do but to go and see General Grant and I would rather die a thousand deaths.

— Robert E. Lee

I am now considered such a monster, that I hesitate to darken with my shadow, the doors of those I love, lest I should bring upon them misfortune.

— Robert E. Lee

I have never witnessed on any previous occasion such entire disregard of the usage of civilized warfare and the dictates of humanity.

— Robert E. Lee

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.

— Robert E. Lee

Let us go home and cultivate our virtues.

— Robert E. Lee

Remember, we are all one country now. Dismiss from your mind all sectional feeling, and bring them up to be Americans.

— Robert E. Lee

Whither shall I flee? To no country on earth that I know of where there is as much liberty as yet remains to me even in Virginia.

— Robert E. Lee

I am as willing to serve now as in the beginning in any capacity and at any post where I can do good. The lower the position, the more suitable to my ability and the more agreeable to my feelings.

— Robert E. Lee

Teach him to deny himself.

— Robert E. Lee

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.

— Robert E. Lee

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

With all my devotion to the Union, and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American citizen, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand against my relative, my children, my home. I have, therefore, resigned my commission in the Army...

— Robert E. Lee

Any victory would be dear at such a price.

— Robert E. Lee

Show me a shouter, and I’ll show you an also-ran. A might-have-been, an almost-was.

— Robert E. Lee

It is good that war is terrible. Or else we would become too fond of it.

— Robert E. Lee
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