--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is nothing left for me to do but to…" description: "\"There is nothing left for me to do but to go and see General Grant and I would rather die a thousand deaths.\" — Robert E. Lee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/232/robert-e-lee-2368_death_there-is-nothing-left-for-me-to-do-but-t_3013067.png" --- # There is nothing left for me to do but to go and see… ![“There is nothing left for me to do but to go and see General Grant and I would rather die a thousand deaths.” quote by Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/232/robert-e-lee-2368_death_there-is-nothing-left-for-me-to-do-but-t_3013067.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/232/robert-e-lee-2368_death_there-is-nothing-left-for-me-to-do-but-t_3013067.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/232/robert-e-lee-2368_death_there-is-nothing-left-for-me-to-do-but-t_3013067.png) > “There is nothing left for me to do but to go and see General Grant and I would rather die a thousand deaths.” [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. Facing death, he preferred confronting a formidable opponent over a meaningless existence. **In simple terms:** Choose meaningful struggle. Key Takeaway Seek purpose even in hardship. Themes courage purpose mortality conflict Mood defiant reflective Type historical motivational When to use this quote - war - personal crisis - final moments - historical reflection Key Concepts heroism existential choice legacy Questions to Reflect On - What gives your life meaning? - How do you confront fear? A Different Perspective Choosing conflict may not suit everyone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [General grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general-grant/) [Surrender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrender/) ## Related quotes > [I would rather die a thousand deaths than surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/i-would-rather-die-a-thousand-deaths-than-surrender/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [I know General Grant better than any other person in the country can know him. It was my duty to study him, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-m-stanton/i-know-general-grant-better-than-any-other-person-in-the-country-can/) [Edwin M. Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-m-stanton/) > [True it is that each of us has only one life - but how many of us 'die a thousand deaths' in fear and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-vaswani/true-it-is-that-each-of-us-has-only-one-life-but-how-many-of-us-die-a/) [Dada Vaswani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-vaswani/) > [I'd rather die a thousand deaths, than having to live once again loving you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-quinonez/i-d-rather-die-a-thousand-deaths-than-having-to-live-once-again/) [Francisco Quinonez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-quinonez/) > [Better to die ten thousand deaths, Than wound my honour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/better-to-die-ten-thousand-deaths-than-wound-my-honour/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Those who live in fear die a thousand deaths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/those-who-live-in-fear-die-a-thousand-deaths/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [“I’d die a thousand deaths for him to continue to look at me this way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-d-die-a-thousand-deaths-for-him-to-continue-to-look-at-me-this-way/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Better to die ten thousand deaths than wound my honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/better-to-die-ten-thousand-deaths-than-wound-my-honor/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Sir, if you ever presume again to speak disrespectfully of General Grant in my presence, either you or I will sever his connection with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/sir-if-you-ever-presume-again-to-speak-disrespectfully-of-general/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [“General Grant seriously remarked to a particularly bright young woman that Venice would be a fine city if it were drained.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/general-grant-seriously-remarked-to-a-particularly-bright-young-woman/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [General Grant had no fixed plan of campaign beyond the general idea to avoid the strong defensive line occupied by General Lee behind Mine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-longstreet/general-grant-had-no-fixed-plan-of-campaign-beyond-the-general-idea/) [James Longstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-longstreet/) > [ \[Mark\] Twain was a publisher. He published General Grant's Memoirs (a big success) and had a hand in the publishing of many of his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-holbrook/mark-twain-was-a-publisher-he-published-general-grant-s-memoirs-a-big/) [Hal Holbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-holbrook/) > [The next time we met was at Appomattox, and the first thing that General Grant said to me when we stepped inside, placing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-longstreet/the-next-time-we-met-was-at-appomattox-and-the-first-thing-that/) [James Longstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-longstreet/) > [In her opinion, Alexander Graham Bell and Clarence Birdseye are the two greatest Americans that ever lived excluding Robert E. Lee. She believes we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-flagg/in-her-opinion-alexander-graham-bell-and-clarence-birdseye-are-the/) [Fannie Flagg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-flagg/) > [Grant stood by me when I was crazy...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/grant-stood-by-me-when-i-was-crazy/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) ## 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 Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) J. Anthony Torino > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) Alan W. Powers > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is nothing left for me to do but to go and see General Grant and I would rather die a thousand deaths.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert E. 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