--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: With all my devotion to the Union, and…" description: "\"With all my devotion to the Union, and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American citizen, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/352/robert-e-lee-2368_able_with-all-my-devotion-to-the-union-and-th_1446122.png" --- # With all my devotion to the Union, and the feeling of… ![“With all my devotion to the Union, and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American citizen, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand against my relative, my children, my home. I have, therefore, resigned my commission in the Army...” quote by Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/352/robert-e-lee-2368_able_with-all-my-devotion-to-the-union-and-th_1446122.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/352/robert-e-lee-2368_able_with-all-my-devotion-to-the-union-and-th_1446122.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/352/robert-e-lee-2368_able_with-all-my-devotion-to-the-union-and-th_1446122.png) > “With all my devotion to the Union, and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American citizen, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand against my relative, my children, my home. I have, therefore, resigned my commission in the Army...” [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 feels conflicted between loyalty to his country and his family, leading to resignation **In simple terms:** He cannot fight against his own relatives and home, so he resigns Key Takeaway Prioritize personal conscience over conflicting duties Themes loyalty duty family conflict Mood somber conflicted Type historical ethical When to use this quote - making a moral choice - resigning from a position - balancing personal and public obligations Key Concepts civil war military service ethical dilemma Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile personal ethics with public obligations? A Different Perspective Resignation may be seen as betrayal by some ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-citizen/) [American citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-citizens/) [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Civil war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) [Confederate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confederate/) [Devotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotion/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Loyalty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loyalty/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [I did my duty as an American citizen and Army officer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-vindman/i-did-my-duty-as-an-american-citizen-and-army-officer/) [Alexander Vindman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-vindman/) > [Do your duty as an American, and as a citizen of the galaxy... 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