I will accept no commission that would tend to create a rivalry with Grant. I want him to hold what he has earned and got. I have all the rank I want.
War is too serious a matter to leave to soldiers.
He belonged to that army known as invincible in peace, invisible in war.
This war differs from other wars, in this particular. We are not fighting armies but a hostile people, and must make old and young, rich and poor, feel the hard hand of war.
An Army is a collection of armed men obliged to obey one man. Every change in the rules which impairs the principle weakens the army.
I make up my opinions from facts and reasoning, and not to suit any body but myself. If people don’t like my opinions, it makes little difference as I don’t solicit their opinions or votes.
If you don’t have my army supplied, and keep it supplied, we’ll eat your mules up, sir.
I intend to make Georgia howl.
War is cruel and you cannot refine it.
War’s Legitimate Object Is More Perfect Peace.
Oh, it is all folly, madness, a crime against civilization.
It’s a disagreeable thing to be whipped.
Grant stood by me when I was crazy...
At first you will make headway, but as your limited resources begin to fail, shut out from the markets of Europe as you will be, your cause will begin to wane. If your people will but stop and think, they must see that in the end you will surely fail.
You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will.
I know I had no hand in making this war, and I know I will make more sacrifices to-day than any of you to secure peace.
An army to be useful must be a unit, and out of this has grown the saying, attributed to Napoleon, but doubtless spoken before the days of Alexander, that an army with an inefficient commander was better than one with two able heads.
Many and many a person in Georgia asked me why we did not go to South Carolina; and, when I answered that we were en route for that State, the invariable reply was, – Well, if you will make those people feel the utmost severities of war, we will pardon you for your desolation of Georgia.
Then, as now, neatness in dress and form, with a strict conformity to the rules, were the qualifications required for office, and I suppose I was found not to excel in any of these.
The American press is a shame and a reproach to a civilized people. When a man is too lazy to work and too cowardly to steal, he becomes an editor and manufactures public opinion.
Never give reasons for what you think or do until you must. Maybe after a while, a better reason will pop into your head.