Ulysses S. Grant Quotes

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

... anything is better than indecision. We must decide. If I am wrong, we shall soon find out and can do the other thing. But not to decide wastes both time and money and may ruin everything.

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.

The most confident critics are generally those who know the least about the matter criticized.

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.

Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet-anchor of your liberties; write its precepts in your hearts, and practice them in your lives.

Cheap cigars come in handy; they stifle the odor of cheap politicians.

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.

Labor disgraces no man; unfortunately, you occasionally find men who disgrace labor.

The will of the people is the best law.

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

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

If you see the President, tell him from me that whatever happens there will be no turning back.

Leave the matter of religion to the family altar, the church, and the private school, supported entirely by private contributions. Keep the church and state forever separate.

Wherever the enemy goes let our troops go also.

God gave us Lincoln and Liberty, let us fight for both.

Let no guilty man escape, if it can he avoided. . . . No personal consideration should stand in the way of performing a public duty.

Wars produce many stories of fiction, some of which are told until they are believed to be true.

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.

Hold fast to the Bible. To the influence of this Book we are indebted for all the progress made in true civilization and to this we must look as our guide in the future.

There are but few important events in the affairs of men brought about by their own choice.

I know no method to secure the repeal of bad or obnoxious laws so effective as their stringent execution.

The United States, knowing no distinction of her own citizens on account of religion or nationality, naturally believes in a civilization the world over which will secure the same universal laws.

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

There never was a time when, in my opinion, some way could not be found to prevent the drawing of the sword.

The theory of government changes with general progress.

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

No other terms than unconditional and immediate surrender. I propose to move immediately upon your works.

I will not move my army without onions.

Two commanders on the same field are always one too many.

It is men who wait to be selected, and not those who seek, from whom we may expect the most efficient service.

Venice would be a fine city if it were only drained.

I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all Summer.

I only knew what was in my mind, and I wished to express it clearly

I desire the good-will of all, whether hitherto my friends or not.

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

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.

Our great modern Republic. May those who seek the blessings of its institutions and the protection of its flag remember the obligations they impose.

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.

It does look like a very good exercise. But what is the little white ball for?

It is preposterous to suppose that the people of one generation can lay down the best and only rules of government for all who are to come after them, and under unforeseen contingencies.

...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.

The cause of the great War of the Rebellion against the United Status will have to be attributed to slavery.

I'm afraid I'm elected.

The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most.

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.

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

My family is American, and has been for generations, in all its branches, direct and collateral

I never wanted to get out of a place as much as I did to get out of the presidency.

The long-continued and useful public service and eminent purity of character of the deceased ex-President will be remembered.