--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Gen. Robert E. Lee was present, and…" description: "\"“Gen. Robert E. Lee was present, and, ignoring the action and presence of the negro, arose in his usual dignified and self-possessed manner, walked up ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67f/charles-bracelen-flood-47696_walked-aisle_gen-robert-e-lee-was-present-and-ignorin_3059381.jpg" --- # Gen. Robert E. Lee was present, and, ignoring the action… ![“Gen. Robert E. Lee was present, and, ignoring the action and presence of the negro, arose in his usual dignified and self-possessed manner, walked up the aisle to the chancel rail, and reverently knelt down to partake of the communion, and not far from the negro.” quote by Charles Bracelen Flood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67f/charles-bracelen-flood-47696_walked-aisle_gen-robert-e-lee-was-present-and-ignorin_3059381.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67f/charles-bracelen-flood-47696_walked-aisle_gen-robert-e-lee-was-present-and-ignorin_3059381.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67f/charles-bracelen-flood-47696_walked-aisle_gen-robert-e-lee-was-present-and-ignorin_3059381.jpg) > ““Gen. Robert E. Lee was present, and, ignoring the action and presence of the negro, arose in his usual dignified and self-possessed manner, walked up the aisle to the chancel rail, and reverently knelt down to partake of the communion, and not far from the negro.”” [Charles Bracelen Flood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bracelen-flood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes General Lee’s dignified behavior during communion, ignoring racial tensions. **In simple terms:** Lee acted respectfully despite surrounding injustice. Key Takeaway Recognize moments of dignity even in oppressive contexts. Themes religion dignity racial injustice Mood reflective somber Type historical analytical When to use this quote - church services - military gatherings - public ceremonies Key Concepts historical leadership social hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - What does respectful conduct reveal about power? - How can dignity be used to challenge injustice? A Different Perspective Such behavior may mask deeper systemic oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communion Far](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communion-far-5125403/) [Lee Present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lee-present-5125400/) [Negro Arose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negro-arose-5125402/) [Reverently Knelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reverently-knelt-5125401/) [Walked Aisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walked-aisle-1069008/) ## Related quotes > [“Approaching each other, him from the gym, me from the library- this was when I walked down the aisle and he was waiting, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/approaching-each-other-him-from-the-gym-me-from-the-library-this-was/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [“Miss Lucia Alvarez?” she said. “Present,” I answered in perfect English. I’d practiced so that there wouldn’t be a trace of a Cuban accent.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-diaz-gonzalez/miss-lucia-alvarez-she-said-present-i-answered-in-perfect-english-i-d/) [Christina Diaz Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-diaz-gonzalez/) > [I didn't know who was on the team, but I saw every eye as I walked down the aisle. It looked like a thousand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-kaline/i-didn-t-know-who-was-on-the-team-but-i-saw-every-eye-as-i-walked/) [Al Kaline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-kaline/) > [“The group laughed, and Sidney’s eyes met Vaughn’s as he walked up the aisle alongside his brother. She found herself momentarily holding her breath.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-james/the-group-laughed-and-sidney-s-eyes-met-vaughn-s-as-he-walked-up-the/) [Julie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-james/) > [deep down...she's a good woman...you should be proud of her." When I told my mom about this, she just looked very sad because he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/deep-down-she-s-a-good-woman-you-should-be-proud-of-her-when-i-told/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [“My husband grabbed my hand and held onto it as we walked down the aisle toward the exit and I did not let go.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/my-husband-grabbed-my-hand-and-held-onto-it-as-we-walked-down-the/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) > [“I wanted her walking to me while I sang the words written just for her when she walked down the aisle to gift me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbi-glines/i-wanted-her-walking-to-me-while-i-sang-the-words-written-just-for/) [Abbi Glines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbi-glines/) ## More by Charles Bracelen Flood > [“Lee had a low opinion of black abilities, and thought that Virginia would be better off it its freed black population now migrated south…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bracelen-flood/lee-had-a-low-opinion-of-black-abilities-and-thought-that-virginia/) [Charles Bracelen Flood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bracelen-flood/) > [“His special gift was the ability to see the essence of a worthwhile suggestion and to relate it to what was already in existence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bracelen-flood/his-special-gift-was-the-ability-to-see-the-essence-of-a-worthwhile/) [Charles Bracelen Flood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bracelen-flood/) > [“Death seemed to lose its terrors and to borrow a grace and dignity in sublime keeping with the life that was ebbing away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bracelen-flood/death-seemed-to-lose-its-terrors-and-to-borrow-a-grace-and-dignity-in/) [Charles Bracelen Flood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bracelen-flood/) > [“The war had made some into libertines and some into serious, sober men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bracelen-flood/the-war-had-made-some-into-libertines-and-some-into-serious-sober-men/) [Charles Bracelen Flood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bracelen-flood/) > [“Lee crushed this idea in a few words. “If I took your advice, the men would be without rations and under no control of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bracelen-flood/lee-crushed-this-idea-in-a-few-words-if-i-took-your-advice-the-men/) [Charles Bracelen Flood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bracelen-flood/) > [“In rural and struggling Lexington, Virginia, Lee's new postwar home, one writer joked darkly dollars were so scarce that they had to be introduced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bracelen-flood/in-rural-and-struggling-lexington-virginia-lee-s-new-postwar-home-one/) [Charles Bracelen Flood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bracelen-flood/) > [“In a few minutes, Lee and Grant reached across to each other from their horses and shook hands. 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