--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So far from engaging in a war to…" description: "\"So far from engaging in a war to perpetuate slavery, I am rejoiced that Slavery is abolished. I believe it will be greatly for the interest of the Sout..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/robert-e-lee-2368_believe_so-far-from-engaging-in-a-war-to-perpetu_1920643.jpg" --- # So far from engaging in a war to perpetuate slavery, I am… ![“So far from engaging in a war to perpetuate slavery, I am rejoiced that Slavery is abolished. I believe it will be greatly for the interest of the South. So fully am I satisfied of this that I would have cheerfully lost all that I have lost by the war, and have suffered all that I have suffered to…” quote by Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/robert-e-lee-2368_believe_so-far-from-engaging-in-a-war-to-perpetu_1920643.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/robert-e-lee-2368_believe_so-far-from-engaging-in-a-war-to-perpetu_1920643.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/robert-e-lee-2368_believe_so-far-from-engaging-in-a-war-to-perpetu_1920643.jpg) > “So far from engaging in a war to perpetuate slavery, I am rejoiced that Slavery is abolished. I believe it will be greatly for the interest of the South. So fully am I satisfied of this that I would have cheerfully lost all that I have lost by the war, and have suffered all that I have suffered to have this object attained.” [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. Expresses relief at the abolition of slavery despite personal loss, highlighting conflicted loyalties. **In simple terms:** Relief at ending slavery despite personal cost. Key Takeaway Balance personal loss with moral progress. Themes war slavery reconciliation Mood somber reflective Type historical ethical When to use this quote - historical analysis - education reform - public policy Key Concepts civil war social change personal sacrifice Questions to Reflect On - How do we reconcile personal suffering with societal progress? - What lessons does this hold for modern conflicts? A Different Perspective Personal loss may cloud judgment of broader good. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civil war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [So far from engaging in a war to perpetuate slavery,I am rejoiced that slavery is abolished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/so-far-from-engaging-in-a-war-to-perpetuate-slavery-i-am-rejoiced/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [I have made some enemies. My enemies in the southern states consisted of those who oppressed the black slave. My enemies in the north…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-parsons/i-have-made-some-enemies-my-enemies-in-the-southern-states-consisted/) Albert Parsons > [The mentality which made one section of the Indians look upon another as enemies was suicidal; it could only serve to perpetuate their slavery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-mentality-which-made-one-section-of-the-indians-look-upon-another/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Robert Bunch, revealed that less than a quarter of the Southern population owned all 3.5 million slaves. Even if slavery were abolished tomorrow, calculated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/robert-bunch-revealed-that-less-than-a-quarter-of-the-southern/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Slavery was abolished in 1355 because of church teachings stating that all men are equal in the eyes of God.§”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-johansson-robinowitz/slavery-was-abolished-in-1355-because-of-church-teachings-stating/) [Christina Johansson Robinowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-johansson-robinowitz/) > [Think of US slavery in 1850, or the subjection of women. Both of these injustices could have been - and were! - defended by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/think-of-us-slavery-in-1850-or-the-subjection-of-women-both-of-these/) [Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/) > [Racism is an effect of slavery, not the other way around. Once slavery was abolished, not only did racism not disappear, neither did the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-churchwell/racism-is-an-effect-of-slavery-not-the-other-way-around-once-slavery/) [Sarah Churchwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-churchwell/) > [We believe slavery was abolished with Abraham Lincoln; unfortunately, human slavery is alive and well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisol-nichols/we-believe-slavery-was-abolished-with-abraham-lincoln-unfortunately/) [Marisol Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisol-nichols/) > [Even in the United States, the enslavement of African descendants continued until the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. That brutal form of slavery was abolished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fidel-castro/even-in-the-united-states-the-enslavement-of-african-descendants/) [Fidel Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fidel-castro/) > [“(it is striking that when slavery was abolished, the British government paid compensation, not to the men and women so inhumanely pressed into bondage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shashi-tharoor/it-is-striking-that-when-slavery-was-abolished-the-british-government/) [Shashi Tharoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shashi-tharoor/) > [Slavery can only be abolished by raising the character of thepeople who compose the nation; and that can be done only by showing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/slavery-can-only-be-abolished-by-raising-the-character-of-thepeople/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Slavery can only be abolished by raising the character of the people who compose the nation; and that can be done only by showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-weston-chapman/slavery-can-only-be-abolished-by-raising-the-character-of-the-people/) [Maria Weston Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-weston-chapman/) > [Slavery was never abolished, it was only extended to include all the colors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/slavery-was-never-abolished-it-was-only-extended-to-include-all-the/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“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/) > [Insofar as we may at all claim that slavery has been abolished today, we owe its abolition to the practical consequences of science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/insofar-as-we-may-at-all-claim-that-slavery-has-been-abolished-today/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) ## 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. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [Alabama soldiers, all I ask of you is to keep up with the Texans!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/alabama-soldiers-all-i-ask-of-you-is-to-keep-up-with-the-texans/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [You must study to be frank with the world: frankness is the child of honesty and courage. Say just what you mean to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/you-must-study-to-be-frank-with-the-world-frankness-is-the-child-of/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [...the framers of our Constitution never exhausted so much labor, wisdom and forbearance in its formation if it was intended to be broken up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/the-framers-of-our-constitution-never-exhausted-so-much-labor-wisdom/) [Robert E. 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. After four years of arduous service marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/lee-tells-his-troops-after-four-years-of-arduous-service-marked-by/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [Obedience to lawful authority is the foundation of manly character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/obedience-to-lawful-authority-is-the-foundation-of-manly-character/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) [Explore all 170 Robert E. Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. 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I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. 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