--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To ensure that no men would be kept from…" description: "\"“To ensure that no men would be kept from the fray because they lacked equipment, the Buffalo merchant Robert Foote threw open all the resources of his..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d84/john-w-davis-32194_main-street_to-ensure-that-no-men-would-be-kept-from_1337853.jpg" --- # To ensure that no men would be kept from the fray because… ![“To ensure that no men would be kept from the fray because they lacked equipment, the Buffalo merchant Robert Foote threw open all the resources of his store, passing out guns, ammunition, slickers, blankets, and flour to anyone who wanted them. Foote rode up and down the Buffalo main street…” quote by John W. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d84/john-w-davis-32194_main-street_to-ensure-that-no-men-would-be-kept-from_1337853.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d84/john-w-davis-32194_main-street_to-ensure-that-no-men-would-be-kept-from_1337853.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d84/john-w-davis-32194_main-street_to-ensure-that-no-men-would-be-kept-from_1337853.jpg) > ““To ensure that no men would be kept from the fray because they lacked equipment, the Buffalo merchant Robert Foote threw open all the resources of his store, passing out guns, ammunition, slickers, blankets, and flour to anyone who wanted them. Foote rode up and down the Buffalo main street, “mounted on his celebrated black horse, with his long white beard flowing in the breeze,” and shouted: “Come out, you — —, and take sides. Now is the time to show your colors.”” [John W. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Foote opened his store to supply anyone willing to fight, urging people to choose a side and act now. **In simple terms:** He gave out gear to all who wanted to join the fight. Key Takeaway Provide resources and rally people immediately. Themes courage community action leadership Mood determined urgent Type historical motivational When to use this quote - civil war recruitment - local militia formation - community defense - emergency aid Key Concepts resource distribution mobilization political persuasion Questions to Reflect On - What motivates people to take sides when resources are offered? - How does sudden generosity affect community dynamics? 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Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-davis/) > [“For the first few days of the invasion, only the most general of news filtered back from the north. On Saturday, April 9 (the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-davis/for-the-first-few-days-of-the-invasion-only-the-most-general-of-news/) [John W. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-davis/) > [“deep-seated hatred between the cattlemen and the settler.”40 This should come as no shock; the only surprise is that the big cattlemen would sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-davis/deep-seated-hatred-between-the-cattlemen-and-the-settler-40-this/) [John W. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-davis/) [Explore all 15 John W. Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-davis/) ## More Main street quotes > [If Wall Street crashes, does Main Street follow? 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