Best Quotes from Personal Memoirs Of Ulysses S. Grant by Ulysses S. Grant with Page Numbers

"My thirst for education was intense. He learned rapidly, and was a constant reader up to the day of his death... Books were scarce... but he read every book he could borrow."

"The habit continued through life. Even after reading the daily papers—which he never neglected—he could give all the important information they contained."

"His industry and independence of character were such, that I imagine his labor compensated fully for the expense of his maintenance."

"I have often thought that my life was saved, and my health restored, by exercise and exposure, enforced by an administrative act, and a war..."

"There must have been a cordiality in his welcome into the Tod family, for to the day of his death he looked upon Judge Tod and his wife with all the reverence he could have felt if they had been parents instead of benefactors."

"I find that he could not bear the idea of his servant riding on a long march while his lieutenant went a-foot."

"I can see John D. White—the school teacher—now, with his long beech switch always in his hand. It was not always the same one, either..."

"While my father carried on the manufacture of leather and worked at the trade himself, he owned and tilled considerable land."

"It was only the very poor who were exempt. While my father carried on the manufacture of leather... every one labored more or less..."

"I never had any hard feelings against my teacher, either while attending the school, or in later years when reflecting upon my experience."

The Mexican war was a political war, and the administration conducting it desired to make party capital out of it.

The promises were all broken. Only about half the troops were furnished that had been pledged, other war material was withheld.

Indeed Scott did not deem it important to hold anything beyond the Rio Grande.

Success could not be expected if a soldier’s plans were not to be supported by the administration.

General Taylor’s victory at Buena Vista...made his nomination for the Presidency by the Whigs a foregone conclusion.

I believe that he sincerely regretted this turn in his fortunes, preferring the peace afforded by a quiet life free from abuse.

The army lay in camp...awaiting the arrival of transports to carry it to its new field of operations.

He carried out commands with precision and an understanding of all tactical maneuvers, enabling swift adaptation to the unexpected.

Among the great personalities I served with, only some truly understood the importance of strategic preparation in uncertain times.

It is always thus, however, in order to follow a retreating foe, unless stopped or otherwise directed.

They had no standing army and, consequently, these trained soldiers had to find employment with the troops from their own States.

The North had a greater number of educated and trained soldiers, but the bulk of them were still in the army...until the war had lasted many months.

In war, the often-recurrent issue of educated and trained leadership was evident in how vital it was to military success.

Prompt action on our part was imperative.

If one general who would have taken the responsibility had been in command of all the troops west of the Alleghenies, he could have marched to Chattanooga... and Vicksburg.

My opinion was and still is that... the way was opened to the National forces all over the South-west without much resistance.

The government ought to disband the regular army... until the war had lasted many months.

Victory is always possible for the person who refuses to stop fighting.

In war, a good retreat is only the prelude to a better advance.

Courage and selflessness will lead you to success in the long run.

"The problem was to secure a footing upon dry ground on the east side of the river from which the troops could operate against Vicksburg."

"I resolved to move headquarters to Memphis, and to repair the road to that point."

"Nothing was left, therefore, but to assume the command myself."

"The elections of 1862 had gone against the party which was for the prosecution of the war to save the Union if it took the last man and the last dollar."

"To make a backward movement as long as that from Vicksburg to Memphis, would be interpreted as a defeat."

"I always admired the South... for the boldness with which they silenced all opposition."

"In positions of great responsibility, every one should do his duty to the best of his ability where assigned by competent authority."

"With all the pressure brought to bear upon them, both President Lincoln and General Halleck stood by me to the end of the campaign."

"The troops felt that their long and weary marches, hard fighting, ceaseless watching... were at last at an end and the Union sure to be saved."

"The surrender of Vicksburg... gave new spirit to the loyal people of the North."

"It is hard for any one not an eye-witness to realize the relief this brought."

"Neither officers nor men looked upon themselves any longer as doomed."

"The weak and languid appearance of the troops, so visible before, disappeared at once."

"But the dispositions were not 'faithfully sustained,' and I doubt not but thousands of men engaged in trying to 'sustain' them now rejoice that they were not."

"During the months it had been besieged, the line was about a mile from the town and extended from Citico Creek to Chattanooga Creek."

"... seized the bridge over the creek, near the crossing of the railroad."

"Soon they were in order and engaging the enemy, with the advantage now of knowing where their antagonist was."

"The enemy was strong in his position, but our troops proved stronger still."

"In securing possession of Lookout Valley, Smith lost one man killed and four or five wounded."

"It was worth all it cost."

The fact of having safely crossed was a victory.

I believed then, and see no reason to change that opinion now, that if the country had been such that Hancock and his command could have seen the confusion and panic in the lines of the enemy, it would have been taken advantage of so effectually.

Fighting between Hancock and Hill continued until night put a close to it.

Our victory consisted in having successfully crossed a formidable stream, almost in the face of an enemy, and in getting the army together as a unit.

I think that we should take the initiative whenever the enemy could be drawn from his intrenchments if we were not intrenched ourselves.

I saw scattered along the road ... wagon-loads of new blankets and overcoats, thrown away by the troops to lighten their knapsacks.

There never was a corps better organized than was the quartermaster’s corps with the Army of the Potomac in 1864.

I had my headquarters advanced ... to the rear of the nearest flank of the brigade...

Orders had been given to cut down the baggage of officers and men to the lowest point possible.

The moment arms were stacked the men intrenched themselves.

I believe that the time will come when we shall look back to this campaign as the one which decided the fate of this nation.

The most difficult thing is to make a modest man act contrarily to his nature.

To be successful, a commander must be able to convey clear orders and inspire confidence in his men.

Our failure is not an indication of our lack of tenacity or bravery, but rather a reminder of the harsh realities of war.

Every soldier must learn how to act quickly and decisively in the chaos of battle.

A general cannot achieve victory without careful planning and the active cooperation of all units.

The art of war is not merely about strategy and tactics, but also about understanding the will of the people.

Action, not words, is what wins battles.

Leadership requires not just authority, but the ability to inspire and unite diverse groups toward a common goal.

Despair is the enemy of progress.

It would only have been a question of days, and not many of them, if he had taken the position assigned to him by the so-called engineer.

My object was to secure a point on that road south of Lee, and I told Meade this.

We did not want to follow him; we wanted to get ahead of him and cut him off.

The Army of the Potomac has every reason to be proud of its four years’ record in the suppression of the rebellion.

I never expected any such bickering as I have indicated, between the soldiers of the two sections; and, fortunately, there has been none between the politicians.

The next morning after the capture of Petersburg, I telegraphed Mr. Lincoln asking him to ride out there and see me.

My heart was heavy for a foe who had fought so long and valiantly.

I hoped to capture them soon.

That will not embrace the side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or baggage.

The results of the last week must convince you of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia in this struggle.