--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have thought from the time of the…" description: "\"I have thought from the time of the cessation of the hostilities, that silence and patience on the part of the South was the true course; and I think s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/robert-e-lee-2368_acceptance_i-have-thought-from-the-time-of-the-cess_2315383.jpg" --- # I have thought from the time of the cessation of the… ![“I have thought from the time of the cessation of the hostilities, that silence and patience on the part of the South was the true course; and I think so still. Controversy of all kinds will, in my opinion, only serve to continue excitement and passion, and will prevent the public mind from the…” quote by Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/robert-e-lee-2368_acceptance_i-have-thought-from-the-time-of-the-cess_2315383.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/robert-e-lee-2368_acceptance_i-have-thought-from-the-time-of-the-cess_2315383.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/robert-e-lee-2368_acceptance_i-have-thought-from-the-time-of-the-cess_2315383.jpg) > “I have thought from the time of the cessation of the hostilities, that silence and patience on the part of the South was the true course; and I think so still. Controversy of all kinds will, in my opinion, only serve to continue excitement and passion, and will prevent the public mind from the acknowledgement and acceptance of the truth.” [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He believes silence and patience were the best path for the South, and that controversy only fuels passion and hinders truth acceptance. **In simple terms:** Patience and quiet are better than endless debate for healing. Key Takeaway Embrace patience and avoid needless conflict. Themes reconciliation political strategy truth seeking Mood thoughtful historical Type opinion political When to use this quote - post‑war reconstruction - public discourse - national healing Key Concepts historical perspective conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - Is silence always constructive? - When should debate be encouraged? A Different Perspective Patience may delay necessary reforms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Acknowledgement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acknowledgement/) [All kinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-kinds/) [Cessation Hostilities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cessation-hostilities-807856/) [Civil war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) [Controversy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversy/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Excitement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excitement/) [Hostilities Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hostilities-silence-5515077/) [Hostility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hostility/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Silence Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence-patience-1111025/) [South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Think Controversy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-controversy-1189697/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [I appeal for cessation of hostilities, not because you are too exhausted to fight, but because war is bad in essence. You want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-appeal-for-cessation-of-hostilities-not-because-you-are-too/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I think controversy is good. It makes people think. I go to work every day and its like I stand up for the rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/i-think-controversy-is-good-it-makes-people-think-i-go-to-work-every/) [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) > [“There are times when God asks nothing of his children except silence, patience and tears.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-seymour-robinson/there-are-times-when-god-asks-nothing-of-his-children-except-silence/) [Charles Seymour Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-seymour-robinson/) > [I think controversy is an interesting thing in that it usually goes hand in hand with starting conversations that surround taboo or under-discussed topics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-sharp/i-think-controversy-is-an-interesting-thing-in-that-it-usually-goes/) [Alex Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-sharp/) > [“Silence and patience are not merely cowardliness, its a symbol of strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-rawat/silence-and-patience-are-not-merely-cowardliness-its-a-symbol-of/) [Rahul Rawat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-rawat/) > [The United States has been very clear that we did have to have some political basis to make clear that that cessation of hostilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-united-states-has-been-very-clear-that-we-did-have-to-have-some/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [“With the 4 month cessation of hostilities in place, many Western governments, in an excess of relief, turned away from BiH. Sense of urgency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-willem-honig/with-the-4-month-cessation-of-hostilities-in-place-many-western/) [Jan Willem Honig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-willem-honig/) > [“Any serious social encounter with knives has one main goal: to stop the action. Beyond that, you have a little flexibility: to kill, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-reinhardt/any-serious-social-encounter-with-knives-has-one-main-goal-to-stop/) [Hank Reinhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-reinhardt/) > [“You mean it's to be peace between you and Elizabeth until after the Tapestry?" cried Georgie, horrified. The prospect of a cessation of hostilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-holt/you-mean-it-s-to-be-peace-between-you-and-elizabeth-until-after-the/) [Tom Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-holt/) > [I'm like a superhero only without powers and the acknowledgement that follows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjames/i-m-like-a-superhero-only-without-powers-and-the-acknowledgement-that/) [Bjames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjames/) > [The dogmatic and, therefore, invulnerable core in Islam is understandably simple: acknowledgement of faith, prayer, charity and fasting. Almost everything else is open to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/the-dogmatic-and-therefore-invulnerable-core-in-islam-is/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [The First Amendment exists to protect our religious liberty--to ensure that all Americans are able to seek out worship God with all our hearts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-first-amendment-exists-to-protect-our-religious-liberty-to-ensure/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Is there cowardice with the acknowledgement of fear?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/is-there-cowardice-with-the-acknowledgement-of-fear/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [ I can hardly believe what these 12 caricatures \[about Prophet Muhammad\] have caused in the world. We Danes feel like we have been placed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-fogh-rasmussen/i-can-hardly-believe-what-these-12-caricatures-about-prophet-muhammad/) [Anders Fogh Rasmussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-fogh-rasmussen/) > [The less obvious hurdle is that of preparing parents emotionally and putting forward realistic images of parenthood and motherhood. There also needs to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/the-less-obvious-hurdle-is-that-of-preparing-parents-emotionally-and/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) ## More by Robert E. Lee > [Live in the world you inhabit. Look upon things as they are. Take them as you find them. Make the best of them. Turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/live-in-the-world-you-inhabit-look-upon-things-as-they-are-take-them/) [Robert E. 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Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [My trust is in the mercy and wisdom of a kind Providence, who ordereth all things for our good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/my-trust-is-in-the-mercy-and-wisdom-of-a-kind-providence-who-ordereth/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [All military history records the triumphs of discipline and courage far more frequently than numbers and resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/all-military-history-records-the-triumphs-of-discipline-and-courage/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [A true man of honor feels humbled himself when he cannot help humbling others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/a-true-man-of-honor-feels-humbled-himself-when-he-cannot-help/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [I will attack no matter what and win the war!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/i-will-attack-no-matter-what-and-win-the-war/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [A man may manifest and communicate his joy, but he should conceal and smother his grief as much as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/a-man-may-manifest-and-communicate-his-joy-but-he-should-conceal-and/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [We poor sinners need to come back from our wanderings to seek pardon through the all-sufficient merits of our Redeemer. And we need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/we-poor-sinners-need-to-come-back-from-our-wanderings-to-seek-pardon/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [Life processes take place in an aqueous medium. All organisms are composed mostly of water, whether they dwell in the oceans, lakes, and rivers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/life-processes-take-place-in-an-aqueous-medium-all-organisms-are/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [We cannot afford to be idle, and though weaker than our opponents in men and military equipments, must endeavor to harass, if we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/we-cannot-afford-to-be-idle-and-though-weaker-than-our-opponents-in/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [We must forgive our enemies. I can truly say that not a day has passed since the war began that I have not prayed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/we-must-forgive-our-enemies-i-can-truly-say-that-not-a-day-has-passed/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [Lee tells his troops. 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