Ulysses S. Grant on War
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“Wars produce many stories of fiction, some of which are told until they are believed to be true.”
“I don't underrate the value of military knowledge, but if men make war in slavish obedience to rules, they will fail.”
“No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted. I propose to move immediately upon your works.”
“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.”
“Though I have been trained as a soldier, and participated in many battles, there never was a time when, in my opinion, some way could not be found to prevent the drawing of the sword. I look forward to an epoch when a court, recognized by all nations, will settle international differences, instead of keeping large standing armies as they do in Europe.”
“For the present, and so long as there are living witnesses of the great war of sections, there will be people who will not be consoled for the loss of a cause which they believed to be holy. As time passes, people, even of the South, will begin to wonder how it was possible that their ancestors ever fought for or justified institutions which acknowledged the right of property in man.”