Born: 19 January 1807, Stratford Hall, Stratford, Virginia, United States
Died: 12 October 1870, Lexington, Virginia, United States
1.The education of a man is never completed until he dies.
2.A true man of honor feels humbled himself when he cannot help humbling others.
3.It is well that war is so terrible, otherwise we should grow too fond of it.
4.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.
5.I can only say that I am nothing but a poor sinner, trusting in Christ alone for salvation.
6.We failed, but in the good providence of God apparent failure often proves a blessing.
7.In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength.
8.My chief concern is to try to be an humble, earnest Christian.
9.What a cruel thing war is... to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors.
10.I like whiskey. I always did, and that is why I never drink it.
11.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.
12.What a cruel thing war is... to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors.
13.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.
14.I tremble for my country when I hear of confidence expressed in me. I know too well my weakness, that our only hope is in God.
15.I think it better to do right, even if we suffer in so doing, than to incur the reproach of our consciences and posterity.
16.Obedience to lawful authority is the foundation of manly character.
17.My chief concern is to try to be an humble, earnest Christian.
18.I cannot trust a man to control others who cannot control himself.
19.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.
20.A Union that can only be maintained by swords and bayonets has no charm for me. If the Union is dissolved and government disrupted, I shall return to my native state and share the miseries of my people, and save in defense will draw my sword on none.
21.The trite saying that honesty is the best policy has met with the just criticism that honesty is not policy. The real honest man is honest from conviction of what is right, not from policy.
22.Get correct views of life, and learn to see the world in its true light. It will enable you to live pleasantly, to do good, and, when summoned away, to leave without regret.
23.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.
24.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.
25.Never do a wrong thing to make a friend or keep one; the man who requires you to do so is dearly purchased at a sacrifice.
26.Say just what you mean to do on every occasion, and take it for granted you mean to do right.
27.If a friend asks a favor, you should grant it if it is reasonable; if not, tell him plainly why you cannot: You will wrong him and wrong yourself by equivocation of any kind.
28.True patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly contrary, at one period, to that which it does at another, and the motive which impels them the desire to do right is precisely the same.
29.You must study to be frank with the world: Frankness is the child of honesty and courage.
30.The doctrines & miracles of our Saviour have required nearly two thousand years to convert but a small part of the human race, & even among Christian nations, what gross errors still exist.
31.In this enlightened age, there are few I believe, but what will acknowledge, that slavery as an institution is a moral & political evil in any country. It is useless to expatiate on its disadvantages.
32.Do your duty in all things, like the old Puritan. You cannot do more; you should never wish to do less.
33.It is easier to make our wishes conform to our means than to make our means conform to our wishes.
34.There is a true glory and a true honor: the glory of duty done the honor of the integrity of principle.
35.My trust is in the mercy and wisdom of a kind Providence, who ordereth all things for our good.
36.All motion is relative. Perhaps it is you who have moved away-by standing still.
