--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Unhappy it is, though, to reflect that a…" description: "\"“Unhappy it is, though, to reflect that a brother's sword has been sheathed in a brother's breast and that the once-happy plains of America are either ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b08/george-washington-257_american-revolution_unhappy-it-is-though-to-reflect-that-a-b_2313225.jpg" --- # Unhappy it is, though, to reflect that a brother's sword… ![“Unhappy it is, though, to reflect that a brother's sword has been sheathed in a brother's breast and that the once-happy plains of America are either to be drenched with blood or inhabited by slaves. Sad alternative! But can a virtuous man hesitate in his choice?” quote by George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b08/george-washington-257_american-revolution_unhappy-it-is-though-to-reflect-that-a-b_2313225.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b08/george-washington-257_american-revolution_unhappy-it-is-though-to-reflect-that-a-b_2313225.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b08/george-washington-257_american-revolution_unhappy-it-is-though-to-reflect-that-a-b_2313225.jpg) > ““Unhappy it is, though, to reflect that a brother's sword has been sheathed in a brother's breast and that the once-happy plains of America are either to be drenched with blood or inhabited by slaves. Sad alternative! But can a virtuous man hesitate in his choice?”” [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Violence and oppression are tragic outcomes of moral hesitation; virtuous choices demand decisive action. **In simple terms:** Hesitation leads to violence; virtue needs decisive action. Key Takeaway Choose moral clarity over indecision. Themes ethics conflict leadership Mood solemn thoughtful Type philosophical historical When to use this quote - political decision‑making - social justice - personal ethics Key Concepts moral philosophy historical reflection Questions to Reflect On - What values guide your toughest choices? - How can you balance virtue with practicality? A Different Perspective Complex history may oversimplify nuanced realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-revolution/) [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) ## Related quotes > [When in a fight to the death, one wants to employ all one's weapons to the utmost. I must say that to die with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/when-in-a-fight-to-the-death-one-wants-to-employ-all-one-s-weapons-to/) [Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/) > [“The best way is to be strong enough to make your enemy think twice about attacking you, yet not so aggressive that he feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lian-hearn/the-best-way-is-to-be-strong-enough-to-make-your-enemy-think-twice/) [Lian Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lian-hearn/) > [“A cape of white fur hung from his shoulders, and a sword was sheathed at his side. Atop its hilt perched a wyvern, open-mouthed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/a-cape-of-white-fur-hung-from-his-shoulders-and-a-sword-was-sheathed/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I have a realistic grasp of my own strengths and weaknesses. My mind is my weapon. My brother has his sword, King Robert has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/i-have-a-realistic-grasp-of-my-own-strengths-and-weaknesses-my-mind-2/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“My brother has his sword, and I have my mind... ―Tyrion Lannister”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/my-brother-has-his-sword-and-i-have-my-mind-tyrion-lannister/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“My brother has his sword, King Robert has his warhammer, and I have my mind … and a mind needs books as a sword…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/my-brother-has-his-sword-king-robert-has-his-warhammer-and-i-have-my/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [My brother has his sword, King Robert has his warhammer and I have my mind...and a mind needs books as a sword needs a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-brother-has-his-sword-king-robert-has-his-warhammer-and-i-have-my-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Army, as usual, are without pay; and a great part of the soldiery without shirts; and though the patience of them is equally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-army-as-usual-are-without-pay-and-a-great-part-of-the-soldiery/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [No Man has a more perfect reliance on the all-wise and powerful dispensations of the Supreme Being than I have, nor thinks his aid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/no-man-has-a-more-perfect-reliance-on-the-all-wise-and-powerful/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [A half-starved limping government, always moving upon crutches and tottering at every step...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/a-half-starved-limping-government-always-moving-upon-crutches-and/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/perseverance-and-spirit-have-done-wonders-in-all-ages/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The Stamp Act imposed on the colonies by the Parliament of Great Britain is an ill-judged measure. Parliament has no right to put its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-stamp-act-imposed-on-the-colonies-by-the-parliament-of-great/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Happy, thrice happy shall they be pronounced hereafter, who have contributed any thing, who have performed the meanest office in erecting this stupendous fabrick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/happy-thrice-happy-shall-they-be-pronounced-hereafter-who-have/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [ \[T\]he hour is fast approaching, on which the Honor and Success of this army, and the safety of our bleeding Country depend. Remember officers… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/t-he-hour-is-fast-approaching-on-which-the-honor-and-success-of-this/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Let us therefore rely on the goodness of the cause, and the aid of the supreme Being, in whose hands victory is, to animate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/let-us-therefore-rely-on-the-goodness-of-the-cause-and-the-aid-of-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) ## More by George Washington > [It is absolutely necessary... for me to have persons that can think for me, as well as execute orders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-absolutely-necessary-for-me-to-have-persons-that-can-think-for/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The whole duty of man is summed up in obedience to God's will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-whole-duty-of-man-is-summed-up-in-obedience-to-god-s-will/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The turning points of lives are not the great moments. The real crises are often concealed in occurrences so trivial in appearance that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-turning-points-of-lives-are-not-the-great-moments-the-real-crises/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-propitious-smiles-of-heaven-can-never-be-expected-on-a-nation/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/interwoven-as-is-the-love-of-liberty-with-every-ligament-of-your/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/in-vain-would-that-man-claim-the-tribute-of-patriotism-who-should/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The blessed Religion revealed in the word of God will remain an eternal and awful monument to prove that the best Institution may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-blessed-religion-revealed-in-the-word-of-god-will-remain-an/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [While we are contending for our own liberty, we should be very cautious not to violate the conscience of others, ever considering that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/while-we-are-contending-for-our-own-liberty-we-should-be-very/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Among many other weighty objections to the Measure, it has been suggested, that it has a tendency to introduce religious disputes into the Army,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/among-many-other-weighty-objections-to-the-measure-it-has-been/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Democratical States must always feel before they can see: it is this that makes their Governments slow, but the people will be right at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/democratical-states-must-always-feel-before-they-can-see-it-is-this/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/if-in-the-opinion-of-the-people-the-distribution-or-modification-of/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [A man's intentions should be allowed in some respects to plead for his actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/a-man-s-intentions-should-be-allowed-in-some-respects-to-plead-for/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible. Do not ever let anyone claim to be a true American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-impossible-to-rightly-govern-the-world-without-god-and-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [My first wish is to see this plague of mankind banished from the earth, and the sons and daughters of this world employed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/my-first-wish-is-to-see-this-plague-of-mankind-banished-from-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Lenity will operate with greater force, in some instances, than rigor. It is, therefore, my first wish, to have my whole conduct distinguished by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/lenity-will-operate-with-greater-force-in-some-instances-than-rigor/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) [Explore all 801 George Washington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) ## More American revolution quotes > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [“Patriotism is a fierce love for the nation’s soul - its land, its people, its core, coupled with a burning contempt for a government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/njau-kihia/patriotism-is-a-fierce-love-for-the-nation-s-soul-its-land-its-people/) Njau Kihia > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [The shot heard round the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-shot-heard-round-the-world/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-two-principles-on-which-our-conduct-towards-the-indians-should-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Socially, politically, economically, militarily, culturally, racially, sexually, demographically, even mythologically, World War II was the crucible that forged modern America. It was the transforming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haynes-johnson/socially-politically-economically-militarily-culturally-racially/) Haynes Johnson > [But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/but-what-do-we-mean-by-the-american-revolution-do-we-mean-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/crouch-down-and-lick-the-hands-which-feed-you-may-your-chains-sit/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [“The British government in 1807 had issued the “Orders in Council,” which enforced a naval blockade against France, and with a shortage of seamen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/the-british-government-in-1807-had-issued-the-orders-in-council-which/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [“There were counter-protests, of course, and in the end Mapplethorpe’s work was exhibited, but the message to the arts community was clear: stray too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bayles/there-were-counter-protests-of-course-and-in-the-end-mapplethorpe-s/) [David Bayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bayles/) > [During the whole time I sat with him in Congress, I never heard him utter three sentences together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/during-the-whole-time-i-sat-with-him-in-congress-i-never-heard-him/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“Wyoming got an Algonquian name from Pennsylvania meaning “large prairie,” but the adoption came only after a long fight. Decades before the settling of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/wyoming-got-an-algonquian-name-from-pennsylvania-meaning-large/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Obama is now fighting for his life. He's fighting for a federal government. I believe in a federal government. I hope it sticks around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/obama-is-now-fighting-for-his-life-he-s-fighting-for-a-federal/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [But I'm a daughter of the American revolution, my grandpa fought in World War II, I have lots of family members who were in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-pavlich/but-i-m-a-daughter-of-the-american-revolution-my-grandpa-fought-in/) [Katie Pavlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-pavlich/) > [ “The important point of this report \[Montague, Massachusetts; July 7, 1774\] may be summed up in six resolutions: 1. We approve of the plan… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-pearson-pressey/the-important-point-of-this-report-montague-massachusetts-july-7-1774/) [Edward Pearson Pressey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-pearson-pressey/) [Browse all 329 American revolution quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-revolution/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Unhappy it is, though, to reflect that a brother's sword has been sheathed in a brother's breast and that the once-happy plains of America are either to be drenched with blood or inhabited by slaves. Sad alternative! But can a virtuous man hesitate in his choice?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Washington" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/unhappy-it-is-though-to-reflect-that-a-brother-s-sword-has-been/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American revolution" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/unhappy-it-is-though-to-reflect-that-a-brother-s-sword-has-been/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b08/george-washington-257_american-revolution_unhappy-it-is-though-to-reflect-that-a-b_2313225.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b08/george-washington-257_american-revolution_unhappy-it-is-though-to-reflect-that-a-b_2313225.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b08/george-washington-257_american-revolution_unhappy-it-is-though-to-reflect-that-a-b_2313225.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Unhappy it is, though, to reflect that a brother's sword has been sheathed in a brother's breast and that…” — George Washington", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "George Washington", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Unhappy it is, though, to reflect...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/unhappy-it-is-though-to-reflect-that-a-brother-s-sword-has-been/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/unhappy-it-is-though-to-reflect-that-a-brother-s-sword-has-been/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```