Ulysses S. Grant was an American soldier and politician who served as the 18th president of the United States. Before his presidency, Grant led the Union Army as Commanding General of the United States Army in winning the American Civil War. Profoundly inspirational Ulysses S. Grant quotes will encourage growth in life, make you wiser and broaden your perspective.
If you’re searching for greatest quotes by presidents that perfectly capture what you’d like to say or just want to feel inspired yourself, browse through an amazing collection of quotes from Ulysses S. Grant, powerful John F. Kennedy quotes and famous Harry S. Truman quotes.
Famous Ulysses S. Grant Quotes
But my later experience has taught me two lessons: first, that things are seen plainer after the events have occurred; second, that the most confident critics are generally those who know the least about the matter criticized.
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.
Nations, like individuals, are punished for their transgressions.
I have never advocated war except as a means of peace.
It does look like a very good exercise. But what is the little white ball for?
The most confident critics are generally those who know the least about the matter criticized.
The distant rear of an army engaged in battle is not the best place from which to judge correctly what is going on in front.
A hero does for others. He would do anything for people he loves, because he knows it would make their lives better. I am not that kind of person, but I want you to be. You could give something to her, to me, to those children in the quarter. You could give something I never could … The white people out there are saying you don’t have it-that you’re a hog, not a man. But I know they are wrong.
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.
I know no method to secure the repeal of bad or obnoxious laws so effective as their stringent execution.
In politics I am growing indifferent – I would like it, if I could now return to my planting and books at home
Inspirational Ulysses S. Grant Quotes
How do people come up with a date and a time to take life from another man? Twelve white men say a black man must die, and another white man sets the date and time without consulting one black person… They sentence you to death because you were at the wrong place at the wrong time, with no proof that you had anything at all to do with the crime… Yet six months later they come and unlock your cage and tell you, We, us, white folks all, have decided it’s time for you to die, because this is the convenient date and time.
In every battle there comes a time when both sides consider themselves beaten, then he who continues the attack wins.
I feel that we are on the eve of a new era, when there is to be great harmony between the Federal and Confederate. I cannot stay to be a living witness to the correctness of this prophecy; but I feel it within me that it is to be so.
The fact is I think I am a verb instead of a personal pronoun. A verb is anything that signifies to be; to do; or to suffer. I signify all three.
I believe that our Great Maker is preparing the world, in His own good time, to become one nation, speaking one language, and when armies and navies will be no longer required.
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.
If we are to have another contest in the near future of our national existence, I predict that the dividing line will not be Mason and Dixon’s but between patriotism and intelligence on the one side, and superstition, ambition and ignorance on the other.
The natural disposition of most people is to clothe a commander of a large army whom they do not know, with almost superhuman abilities. A large part of the National army, for instance, and most of the press of the country, clothed General Lee with just such qualities, but I had known him personally, and knew that he was mortal; and it was just as well that I felt this.
Declare church and state forever separate and distinct, but each free within their proper spheres.
If you see the President, tell him from me that whatever happens there will be no turning back.
The one thing I never want to see again is a military parade. When I resigned from the army and went to a farm, I was happy. When the rebellion came, I returned to the service because it was a duty. I had no thought of rank; all I did was try and make.
I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer.
Amazing Ulysses S. Grant Quotes
I leave comparisons to history, claiming only that I have acted in every instance from a conscientious desire to do what was right, constitutional, within the law, and for the very best interests of the whole people. Failures have been errors of judgment, not of intent.
I felt like anything rather than rejoicing at the downfall of a foe who had fought so long and valiantly, and had suffered so much for a cause, though that cause was, I believe, one of the worst for which a people ever fought, and one for which there was the least excuse.
Generally, the officers of the army were indifferent whether the annexation [of Texas] was consummated or not; but not so all of them. For myself, I was bitterly opposed to the measure, and to this day regard the war, which resulted, as one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation. It was an instance of a republic following the bad example of European monarchies, in not considering justice in their desire to acquire additional territory.
Everyone has his superstitions. One of mine has always been when I started to go anywhere, accomplished.
Cheap cigars come in handy; they stifle the odor of cheap politicians.
I would suggest the taxation of all property equally, whether church or corporation, exempting only the last resting place of the dead and possibly, with proper restrictions, church edifices.
Two commanders on the same field are always one too many.
Wars produce many stories of fiction, some of which are told until they are believed to be true.
There never was a time when, in my opinion, some way could not be found to prevent the drawing of the sword.
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.
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.
I don’t underrate the value of military knowledge, but if men make war in slavish obedience to rules, they will fail.
The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most.
I would like to call your attention to … an evil that, if allowed to continue, will probably lead to great trouble … It is the accumulation of vast amounts of untaxed church property.
Venice would be a fine city if it were only drained.
I will not move my army without onions.
Let no guilty man escape if it can be avoided. Be especially vigilant-or instruct those engaged in the prosecution of fraud to be-against all who insinuate that they have high influence to protect-or to protect them. No personal consideration should stand in the way of performing a public duty.
Ah, you know my weaknesses–my children and my horses.
No theory of my own will ever stand in the way of my executing, in good faith, any order I may receive from those in authority over me.
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.
There are but few important events in the affairs of men brought about by their own choice.
One of my superstitions had always been when I started to go anywhere or do anything, not to turn back, or stop until the thing intended was accomplished. I have frequently started to go places where I had never been and to which I did not know the way, depending upon making inquiries on the road, and if I got past the place without knowing it, instead of turning back, I would go until a road was found turning in the right direction, take that, and come in by the other side.
There is nothing more I should do to it now, and therefore I am not likely to be more ready to go than at this moment.
No other terms than unconditional and immediate surrender. I propose to move immediately upon your works.
War is progressive because all instruments of war are progressive.
Quit thinking about what Bobby Lee’s gonna do to us and start thinking about what we’re going to do to him.
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.
I will raid the arsenal and start a war to end slavery.