--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We hoped for a happy termination of this…" description: "\"We hoped for a happy termination of this terrible war long before this; but God knows best, and has ruled otherwise. We shall yet acknowledge His wisdo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b83/abraham-lincoln-88_acknowledge_we-hoped-for-a-happy-termination-of-this_1198042.png" --- # We hoped for a happy termination of this terrible war long… ![“We hoped for a happy termination of this terrible war long before this; but God knows best, and has ruled otherwise. We shall yet acknowledge His wisdom and our own error therein.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b83/abraham-lincoln-88_acknowledge_we-hoped-for-a-happy-termination-of-this_1198042.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b83/abraham-lincoln-88_acknowledge_we-hoped-for-a-happy-termination-of-this_1198042.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b83/abraham-lincoln-88_acknowledge_we-hoped-for-a-happy-termination-of-this_1198042.png) > “We hoped for a happy termination of this terrible war long before this; but God knows best, and has ruled otherwise. We shall yet acknowledge His wisdom and our own error therein.” [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He acknowledges that the outcome of war is beyond human control and that divine wisdom may differ from our hopes. **In simple terms:** God's plan may differ from our wishes. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty and learn from mistakes. Themes faith war humility Mood reflective somber Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - military leadership - political decision‑making - personal reflection Key Concepts divine providence human limitation error Questions to Reflect On - How do we reconcile hope with reality? - What role should faith play in decision making? A Different Perspective Human plans often clash with larger forces. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civil war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) [God knows best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-knows-best/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [We shall yet acknowledge His wisdom and our own error therein.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-shall-yet-acknowledge-his-wisdom-and-our-own-error-therein/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The purposes of the Almighty are perfect, and must prevail, though we erring mortals may fail to accurately perceive them in advance. We hoped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-purposes-of-the-almighty-are-perfect-and-must-prevail-though-we-2/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“They were gone, she hoped, to be happy, however oddly constructed such happiness might seem; as for herself, she was left with as many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/they-were-gone-she-hoped-to-be-happy-however-oddly-constructed-such/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“he hoped she would be happy, and never regret having driven her poor boy out into the unfeeling world to suffer and die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/he-hoped-she-would-be-happy-and-never-regret-having-driven-her-poor/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [War, at the best, is terrible, and this war of ours, in its magnitude and in its duration, is one of the most terrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/war-at-the-best-is-terrible-and-this-war-of-ours-in-its-magnitude-and/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Surely He intends some great good to follow this mighty convulsion which no mortal could make, and no mortal could stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/surely-he-intends-some-great-good-to-follow-this-mighty-convulsion/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The purposes of the Almighty are perfect, and must prevail, though we erring mortals may fail to accurately perceive them in advance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-purposes-of-the-almighty-are-perfect-and-must-prevail-though-we/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [It is safe to assert that no government proper ever had a provision in its organic law for its own termination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-is-safe-to-assert-that-no-government-proper-ever-had-a-provision/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Relying, as I do, upon the Almighty Power, and encouraged as I am by these resolutions which you have just read, with the support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/relying-as-i-do-upon-the-almighty-power-and-encouraged-as-i-am-by/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The whole of organic nature on our planet exists only by a relentless war of all against all. ... 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Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [ The very same British and American families who had combined to wreck the Indian textile industry in the promotion of the opium trade \[...\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coleman/the-very-same-british-and-american-families-who-had-combined-to-wreck/) [John Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coleman/) > [Everyone wants peace - and they will fight the most terrible war to get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-kington/everyone-wants-peace-and-they-will-fight-the-most-terrible-war-to-get/) [Miles Kington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-kington/) > [“Mr Lincoln suggested that the Lord sent us this terrible war as punishment for the offense of slavery and that the war may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-chiaverini/mr-lincoln-suggested-that-the-lord-sent-us-this-terrible-war-as/) [Jennifer Chiaverini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-chiaverini/) ## More by Abraham Lincoln > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you wish to be a lawyer, attach no consequence to the place you are in, or the person you are with; but get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-you-wish-to-be-a-lawyer-attach-no-consequence-to-the-place-you-are/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [As we keep or break the Sabbath Day we nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope by which man rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/as-we-keep-or-break-the-sabbath-day-we-nobly-save-or-meanly-lose-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Tell the truth and you won't have so much to remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/tell-the-truth-and-you-won-t-have-so-much-to-remember/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [With high hope for the future, no prediction is ventured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/with-high-hope-for-the-future-no-prediction-is-ventured/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are better off than hired laborers amongst us. How little they know, whereof they speak! There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-know-southern-men-declare-that-their-slaves-are-better-off-than/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I am glad to see that a system of labor prevails under which laborers can strike when they want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-glad-to-see-that-a-system-of-labor-prevails-under-which-laborers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I don't like that man. I must get to know him better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-don-t-like-that-man-i-must-get-to-know-him-better/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and to the young, it comes with bitterest agony because it takes them unawares.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-this-sad-world-of-ours-sorrow-comes-to-all-and-to-the-young-it/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The man does not live who is more devoted to peace than I am. None who would do more to preserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-man-does-not-live-who-is-more-devoted-to-peace-than-i-am-none-who/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Explore all 1,437 Abraham Lincoln quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More Acknowledge quotes > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) Frank B. Wilderson III > [I'm a Christian because Christianity names and addresses sin. 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Self-assessment and attempts at self-improvement are essential aspects of "the good life."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-burton/no-one-seriously-doubts-socrates-maxim-the-unexamined-life-isn-t/) [Robert A. Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-burton/) > [As objects of contemplation, images of the atrocious can answer to several different needs. To steel oneself against weakness. 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