"My experience of men has neither disposed me to think worse of them or indisposed me to serve them; nor in spite of failures, which I lament, of errors which I now see and acknowledge; or of the present aspect of affairs; do I despair of the future. The truth is this: The march of Providence is so slow, and our desires so impatient; the work of progress is so immense and our means of aiding it so feeble; the life of humanity is so long, that of the individual so brief, that we often see only the ebb of the advancing wave and are thus discouraged. It is history that teaches us to hope."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Military leaders from the United StatesEpiscopalians from the United StatesUnited States Military Academy alumniPeople from VirginiaConfederate military leaders
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Letter to Lieutenant Colonel Charles Marshall (September 1870)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Robert_E._Lee
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee (19 January 1807 – 12 October 1870) was an American soldier known for commanding the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia (and eventually all the armies of the Confederacy as general-in-chief) in the American Civil War from 1862 until his surrender to Ulysses S. Grant in 1865. The son of Revolutionary War officer Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee III, Lee wa
98 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Robert E. Lee →
Related Quotes
"Madam, don't bring up your sons to detest the United States government. Recollect that we form one country now. Aband…"
"We must forgive our enemies. I can truly say that not a day has passed since the war began that I have not prayed for…"
"I cannot consent to place in the control of others one who cannot control himself."
"Sir, if you ever presume again to speak disrespectfully of General Grant in my presence, either you or I will sever h…"
"The forbearing use of power does not only form a touchstone, but the manner in which an individual enjoys certain adv…"
"I have fought against the people of the North because I believed they were seeking to wrest from the South its deares…"
"Obedience to lawful authority is the foundation of manly character."
"After it is all over, as stupid a fellow as I am can see that mistakes were made. I notice, however, that my mistakes…"
"Teach him he must deny himself."
"My experience through life has convinced me that, while moderation and temperance in all things are commendable and b…"