--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What could I do but go with them Civil…" description: "\"What could I do but go with them Civil War soldiers, or work for them and my country? The patriot blood of my father was warm in my veins.\" — Clara Barton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/clara-barton-16924_blood_what-could-i-do-but-go-with-them-civil-w_951036.png" --- # What could I do but go with them Civil War soldiers, or… ![“What could I do but go with them Civil War soldiers, or work for them and my country? The patriot blood of my father was warm in my veins.” quote by Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/clara-barton-16924_blood_what-could-i-do-but-go-with-them-civil-w_951036.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/clara-barton-16924_blood_what-could-i-do-but-go-with-them-civil-w_951036.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/clara-barton-16924_blood_what-could-i-do-but-go-with-them-civil-w_951036.png) > “What could I do but go with them Civil War soldiers, or work for them and my country? The patriot blood of my father was warm in my veins.” [Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Patriotic duty and personal loyalty clash; she must choose between fighting alongside soldiers or serving her country in another capacity. **In simple terms:** She struggles between joining soldiers or serving differently. Key Takeaway Align actions with personal values and national service. Themes duty patriotism conflict Mood conflicted thoughtful Type reflective philosophical When to use this quote - military service - nursing - government work - community aid Key Concepts military ethics family legacy civic responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What does patriotism mean to you? - How can you serve without compromising personal beliefs? A Different Perspective Choosing a path may require redefining patriotism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civil war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Patriot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriot/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [The patriot blood of my father was warm in my veins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/the-patriot-blood-of-my-father-was-warm-in-my-veins/) [Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/) > [A true patriot does not confuse government with country. A patriot's loyalty is to his country, and loyalty to country requires holding government accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/a-true-patriot-does-not-confuse-government-with-country-a-patriot-s/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [The patriot's blood is the seed of Freedom's tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-campbell/the-patriot-s-blood-is-the-seed-of-freedom-s-tree/) [Thomas Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-campbell/) > [Let every man remember that to violate the law, is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear the character of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-every-man-remember-that-to-violate-the-law-is-to-trample-on-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“These boozy and licentious variety halls thrived on the patronage of civil War soldiers on furlough, prompting moralists to persuade the city to require…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-wallace/these-boozy-and-licentious-variety-halls-thrived-on-the-patronage-of/) [Mike Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-wallace/) > [“Real strategists are warriors and must be willing and able to fight battles, to “see the elephant,” as Civil War soldiers were fond of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-l-o-connell/real-strategists-are-warriors-and-must-be-willing-and-able-to-fight/) [Robert L. O'Connell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-l-o-connell/) > [As a kid, I was growing up in an era of celebration of the Civil War centennial, with a lot of 'Lost Cause' emphasis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-gilpin-faust/as-a-kid-i-was-growing-up-in-an-era-of-celebration-of-the-civil-war/) [Drew Gilpin Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-gilpin-faust/) > [Jesus did not have human blood: He was born of the virgin Mary with the divine blood of His Father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-angley/jesus-did-not-have-human-blood-he-was-born-of-the-virgin-mary-with/) [Ernest Angley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-angley/) > [The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/the-soldier-above-all-other-people-prays-for-peace-for-he-must-suffer/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [War's a game, which, were their subjects wise, Kings would not play at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/war-s-a-game-which-were-their-subjects-wise-kings-would-not-play-at/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [In time of war, soldiers, however sensible, care a great deal more on some occasions about slaking their thirst than about the danger of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/in-time-of-war-soldiers-however-sensible-care-a-great-deal-more-on/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Don't forget, incoming fire has the right of way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-smith/don-t-forget-incoming-fire-has-the-right-of-way/) [Clint Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-smith/) > [War is the only game in which both sides lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/war-is-the-only-game-in-which-both-sides-lose/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [When this war is over, the Japanese language will be spoken only in hell!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-halsey/when-this-war-is-over-the-japanese-language-will-be-spoken-only-in/) [William Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-halsey/) > [There are things worth fighting for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/there-are-things-worth-fighting-for/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) ## More by Clara Barton > [I founded the American Red Cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/i-founded-the-american-red-cross/) [Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/) > [“The surest test of discipline is it's absence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/the-surest-test-of-discipline-is-it-s-absence/) [Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/) > [I don't know how long it has been since my ear has been free from the roll of a drum. It is the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/i-don-t-know-how-long-it-has-been-since-my-ear-has-been-free-from-the/) [Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/) > [The Red Cross in its nature, it aims and purposes, and consequently, its methods, is unlike any other organization in the country.It is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/the-red-cross-in-its-nature-it-aims-and-purposes-and-consequently-its/) [Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/) > [People should not say that this or that is not worth learning, giving as their reason that it will not be put to use.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/people-should-not-say-that-this-or-that-is-not-worth-learning-giving/) [Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/) > [You must never so much think as whether you like it or not, whether it is bearable or not; you must never think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/you-must-never-so-much-think-as-whether-you-like-it-or-not-whether-it/) [Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/) > [It is wise statesmanship which suggests that in time of peace we must prepare for war, and it is no less a wise benevolence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/it-is-wise-statesmanship-which-suggests-that-in-time-of-peace-we-must/) [Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/) > [I may sometimes be willing to teach for nothing, but if paid at all, I shall never do a man's work for less than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/i-may-sometimes-be-willing-to-teach-for-nothing-but-if-paid-at-all-i/) [Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/) > [I may be compelled to face danger, but never fear it, and while our soldiers can stand and fight, I can stand and feed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/i-may-be-compelled-to-face-danger-but-never-fear-it-and-while-our/) [Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/) > [I don't know how long it has been since my ear has been free from the roll of a drum. 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