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Ulysses S. Grant

Ulysses S. Grant Quotes

18th U.S. President

Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States, renowned for his military prowess during the Civil War. He served as the commander-in-chief of the Union Army and played a crucial role in the Northern victory. During his presidency, Grant focused on rebuilding the South and promoting a series of reforms. His leadership style and policy initiatives had a profound impact both during his time and in subsequent history.

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Famous Ulysses S. Grant Quotes

“Quit thinking about what Bobby Lee's gonna do to us and start thinking about what we're going to do to him.”

Thinking War History Quitting Civil War American Civil War

Author:Ulysses S. Grant

“I suppose this work is part of the devil that is in us all.”

War History Devil Civil War American Civil War

Author:Ulysses S. Grant

“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.”

“In every battle there comes a time when both sides consider themselves beaten, then he who continues the attack wins.”

War Time Winning Sides Inspire Battle Presidential Civil War Patriotic Continuing Considering Beaten Both Sides Attacking There Comes A Time Us Army

Author:Ulysses S. Grant

“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.”

Mean War Political Felt Military Soldier Affection Profession Civil War Grants Fondness Old Soldiers

Author:Ulysses S. Grant

“I know only two tunes: one of them is "Yankee Doodle" and the other isn't.”

Knows Two Civil War Tunes Grants Yankees Us President Great Presidents Yankee Fans

Author:Ulysses S. Grant

“I don't underrate the value of military knowledge, but if men make war in slavish obedience to rules, they will fail.”

Ifs Men War Failing Military Obedience Civil War Grants Bad Ass

Author:Ulysses S. Grant

“Nations, like individuals, are punished for their transgressions.”

War Individual Nations Peace Civil War Grants Anti War Antiwar American Civil War Transgression

Book:Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant

Source: Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant

“I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer.”

Ifs Fighting Lines Military Summer Civil War Grants Propose

Author:Ulysses S. Grant

“I have never advocated war except as a means of peace.”

Mean War Presidential Civil War Patriotic Grants Bad Ass Call Of Duty

Author:Ulysses S. Grant

“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.”

People Ifs Enough Government Strong Enjoy Natural Liberty Revolution Libertarian Oppression Civil War Patriotic Grants Acceptable Inherent Oppressed Strong Enough Withdrawal

Author:Ulysses S. Grant

“Wherever the enemy goes let our troops go also.”

Enemy Military Civil War Grants Troops Our Troops Great Military

Book:Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant Volume 2 of 2

Source: Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant Volume 2 of 2

“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.”

Thinking Trying War Seems Turns Land Tired Hearing Command Civil War

Book:Ulysses S. Grant: Warrior and Statesman

Source: Ulysses S. Grant: Warrior and Statesman

“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.”

Men Want Firsts War Lines Victory Honor News Hundred Gun Surrender Civil War Prisoner Downfall Firing Salute Confederate

Book:Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant

Source: Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant

“Really, Mr. Lincoln, I have had enough of this show business.”

War Enough Shows Civil War Show Business Had Enough

Author:Ulysses S. Grant

“It will be all right if it turns out all right.”

Ifs War Turns Civil War

Author:Ulysses S. Grant

“Lee's army will be your objective point. Wherever Lee goes, there you will go also.”

War Army Objectives Civil War

Book:Ulysses S. Grant: Memoirs & Selected Letters: Library of America #50

Source: Ulysses S. Grant: Memoirs & Selected Letters: Library of America #50

“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.”

Want Two War Party Stronger Civil War Latter Patriot Hereafter Traitor

Book:The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant: April to September, 1861

Source: The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant: April to September, 1861

“Retreat? NO. I propose to attach at daylight and whip them.”

War Civil War Retreat Propose Whips Daylight

Author:Ulysses S. Grant

“...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.”

War Order Enemy Duty Soldier Civil War Whips

Book:The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant: April 1-August 31, 1862

Source: The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant: April 1-August 31, 1862

“I never knew what to do with a paper except to put it in a side pocket or pass it to a clerk who understood it better than I did.”

War Sides Paper Understood Civil War Pockets Clerks

Author:Ulysses S. Grant

“...I never heard him abuse an enemy. Some of the cruel things said about President Lincoln, particularly in the North, used to pierce him to the heart; but never in my presence did he evince a revengeful disposition.”

Heart Said War Used President Enemy Heard Abuse Civil War Disposition Pierce Revengeful President Lincoln

Book:Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant

Source: Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant

“If men make war in slavish observance of rules, they will fail. No rules will apply to conditions of war as different as those which exist in Europe and America...War is progressive, because all the instruments and elements of war are progressive.”

Ifs Men Different War America Failing Conditions Elements Europe Instruments Civil War Progressive Observance Europe And America

Author:Ulysses S. Grant

“The colored man has been accustomed all his life to lean on the white man, and if a good officer is placed over him, he will learn readily and make a good soldier.”

Ifs Men Has Beens War White Soldier Civil War Officers White Man Accustomed Good Soldiers

Author:Ulysses S. Grant