Robert E. Lee

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

In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength.

If you have any fault to find with anyone, tell him, not others, of what you complain; there is no more dangerous experiment than that of undertaking to be one thing before a man's face and another behind his back.

My chief concern is to try to be an humble, earnest Christian.

I have been up to see the Congress and they do not seem to be able to do anything except to eat peanuts and chew tobacco, while my army is starving.

We must expect reverses, even defeats. They are sent to teach us wisdom and prudence, to call forth greater energies, and to prevent our falling into greater disasters.

What a cruel thing war is... to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors.

Obedience to lawful authority is the foundation of manly character.

You must study to be frank with the world: Frankness is the child of honesty and courage.

We have fought this fight as long, and as well as we know how. We have been defeated. For us as a Christian people, there is now but one course to pursue. We must accept the situation.

It is well that war is so terrible, otherwise we should grow too fond of it.

We should live, act, and say nothing to the injury of anyone. It is not only best as a matter of principle, but it is the path to peace and honor.