--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I declare that civil war is inevitable…" description: "\"I declare that civil war is inevitable and is near at hand. When it comes the descendants of the heroes of Lexington and Bunker Hill will be found equa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/sam-houston-13388_civil-war_i-declare-that-civil-war-is-inevitable-a_1002966.jpg" --- # I declare that civil war is inevitable and is near at… ![“I declare that civil war is inevitable and is near at hand. When it comes the descendants of the heroes of Lexington and Bunker Hill will be found equal in patriotism, courage and heroic endurance with the descendants of the heroes of Cowpens and YorkI declare that civil war is inevitable and is…” quote by Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/sam-houston-13388_civil-war_i-declare-that-civil-war-is-inevitable-a_1002966.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/sam-houston-13388_civil-war_i-declare-that-civil-war-is-inevitable-a_1002966.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/sam-houston-13388_civil-war_i-declare-that-civil-war-is-inevitable-a_1002966.jpg) > “I declare that civil war is inevitable and is near at hand. When it comes the descendants of the heroes of Lexington and Bunker Hill will be found equal in patriotism, courage and heroic endurance with the descendants of the heroes of Cowpens and YorkI declare that civil war is inevitable and is near at hand. When it comes the descendants of the heroes of Lexington and Bunker Hill will be found equal in patriotism, courage and heroic endurance with the descendants of the heroes of Cowpens and York” [Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Predicts an imminent civil conflict, comparing future patriots to Revolutionary heroes. **In simple terms:** Civil war is coming, and future generations will be as brave as past ones. Key Takeaway Prepare for societal division. Themes conflict patriotism history Mood tense reflective Type historical political When to use this quote - political debate - military planning - public discourse Key Concepts civil war generational legacy Questions to Reflect On - How can societies avoid inevitable conflict? - What lessons from past wars apply today? A Different Perspective May overlook peaceful resolution possibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bunker hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bunker-hill/) [Civil war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Equal Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-patriotism-2129841/) [Inevitable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inevitable/) [Inevitable Near](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inevitable-near-2129842/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Patriotism Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism-courage-1471836/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Inevitable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-inevitable-300941/) ## Related quotes > [I declare that civil war is inevitable and is near at hand. When it comes the descendants of the heroes of Lexington and Bunker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/i-declare-that-civil-war-is-inevitable-and-is-near-at-hand-when-it-2/) [Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) > [Silence does not equal patriotism. Obedience is not the American way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/silence-does-not-equal-patriotism-obedience-is-not-the-american-way/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [We'll make a bunker hill of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pickett/we-ll-make-a-bunker-hill-of-it/) [George Pickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pickett/) > [Our young people have come to look upon war as a kind of beneficent deity, which not only adds to the national honor but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-young-people-have-come-to-look-upon-war-as-a-kind-of-beneficent-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our young people have come to look upon war as a kind of beneficent deity, which not only adds to the national honor but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-harding-davis/our-young-people-have-come-to-look-upon-war-as-a-kind-of-beneficent/) [Rebecca Harding Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-harding-davis/) > [“Wherever she spoke, Laura never failed to thank the military for their patriotism and their courage and to express sympathy for those who lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-kessler/wherever-she-spoke-laura-never-failed-to-thank-the-military-for-their/) [Ronald Kessler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-kessler/) > [“On the other hand, a white shoemaker wrote in 1848 in the Awl, the newspaper of Lynn shoe factory workers: . . . we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/on-the-other-hand-a-white-shoemaker-wrote-in-1848-in-the-awl-the/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Liberty knows nothing but victories. Soldiers call Bunker Hill a defeat; but liberty dates from it though Warren lay dead on the field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-phillips/liberty-knows-nothing-but-victories-soldiers-call-bunker-hill-a/) [Wendell Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-phillips/) > [I shall enter on no encomium upon Massachusetts; she needs none. There she is. Behold her, and judge for yourselves. There is her history;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/i-shall-enter-on-no-encomium-upon-massachusetts-she-needs-none-there/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [If one, then, asks me the meaning of our flag, I say to him, It means just what Concord and Lexington meant, what Bunker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/if-one-then-asks-me-the-meaning-of-our-flag-i-say-to-him-it-means/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [If anyone, then, asks me the meaning of our flag, I say to him - it means just what Concord and Lexington meant; what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/if-anyone-then-asks-me-the-meaning-of-our-flag-i-say-to-him-it-means/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“Oh, it was 1775.” “What?” “1775. The Battle of Bunker Hill.” “Oh.” I laughed. “We learned about it the day we met,” he added.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-richards/oh-it-was-1775-what-1775-the-battle-of-bunker-hill-oh-i-laughed-we/) [J.M. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-richards/) > [When a friend of Abigail and John Adams was killed at Bunker Hill, Abigail's response was to write a letter to her husband and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/when-a-friend-of-abigail-and-john-adams-was-killed-at-bunker-hill/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [It says more about America, what happened that day, than almost anything since. And yet, we tend to forget. None of us forgets on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-capuano/it-says-more-about-america-what-happened-that-day-than-almost/) [Michael Capuano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-capuano/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) ## More by Sam Houston > [I would give no thought of what the world might say of me, if I could only transmit to posterity the reputation of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/i-would-give-no-thought-of-what-the-world-might-say-of-me-if-i-could/) [Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) > [For Texas, a wise and prudent administration in the commencement of her national existence will be universally expected, imposing upon me the difficult and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/for-texas-a-wise-and-prudent-administration-in-the-commencement-of/) [Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) > [The benefits of education and of useful knowledge, generally diffused through a community, are essential to the preservation of a free government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/the-benefits-of-education-and-of-useful-knowledge-generally-diffused/) [Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) > [Union can achieve everything when sustained by gallant hearts and correct principles, while anarchy and insubordination must fail in the achievement of every thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/union-can-achieve-everything-when-sustained-by-gallant-hearts-and/) [Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) > [A leader is someone who helps improve the lives of other people or improve the system they live under.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/a-leader-is-someone-who-helps-improve-the-lives-of-other-people-or/) [Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) > [I am aware that in presenting myself as the advocate of the Indians and their rights, I shall stand very much alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/i-am-aware-that-in-presenting-myself-as-the-advocate-of-the-indians/) [Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) > [He has all the characteristics of a dog - except loyalty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/he-has-all-the-characteristics-of-a-dog-except-loyalty/) [Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) > [Let me tell you what is coming… Your fathers and husbands, your sons and brothers, will be herded at the point of the bayonet...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/let-me-tell-you-what-is-coming-your-fathers-and-husbands-your-sons/) [Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) > [Diversified interests must exist in every community, and that system which is best calculated to promote the general interest is the one which should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/diversified-interests-must-exist-in-every-community-and-that-system/) [Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) > [I love Texas too well to bring civil strife and bloodshed upon her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/i-love-texas-too-well-to-bring-civil-strife-and-bloodshed-upon-her/) [Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) > [Texas, to be respected must be polite. Santa Anna living, can be of incalculable benefit to Texas; Santa Anna dead, would just be another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/texas-to-be-respected-must-be-polite-santa-anna-living-can-be-of/) [Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) > [Do right and risk the consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/do-right-and-risk-the-consequences/) [Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) > [To secede from the Union and set up another government would cause war. If you go to war with the United States, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/to-secede-from-the-union-and-set-up-another-government-would-cause/) [Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) > [Let me tell you what is coming. After the sacrifice of countless millions of treasure and hundreds of thousands of lives you may win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/let-me-tell-you-what-is-coming-after-the-sacrifice-of-countless/) [Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) > [Texas will again lift its head and stand among the nations. It ought to do so, for no country upon the globe can compare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/texas-will-again-lift-its-head-and-stand-among-the-nations-it-ought/) [Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) [Explore all 50 Sam Houston quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) ## More Bunker hill quotes > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [We'll make a bunker hill of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pickett/we-ll-make-a-bunker-hill-of-it/) [George Pickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pickett/) > [It says more about America, what happened that day, than almost anything since. And yet, we tend to forget. None of us forgets on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-capuano/it-says-more-about-america-what-happened-that-day-than-almost/) [Michael Capuano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-capuano/) > [When a friend of Abigail and John Adams was killed at Bunker Hill, Abigail's response was to write a letter to her husband and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/when-a-friend-of-abigail-and-john-adams-was-killed-at-bunker-hill/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“Oh, it was 1775.” “What?” “1775. The Battle of Bunker Hill.” “Oh.” I laughed. “We learned about it the day we met,” he added.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-richards/oh-it-was-1775-what-1775-the-battle-of-bunker-hill-oh-i-laughed-we/) [J.M. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-richards/) > [If anyone, then, asks me the meaning of our flag, I say to him - it means just what Concord and Lexington meant; what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/if-anyone-then-asks-me-the-meaning-of-our-flag-i-say-to-him-it-means/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [If one, then, asks me the meaning of our flag, I say to him, It means just what Concord and Lexington meant, what Bunker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/if-one-then-asks-me-the-meaning-of-our-flag-i-say-to-him-it-means/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [I shall enter on no encomium upon Massachusetts; she needs none. There she is. Behold her, and judge for yourselves. There is her history;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/i-shall-enter-on-no-encomium-upon-massachusetts-she-needs-none-there/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [Liberty knows nothing but victories. Soldiers call Bunker Hill a defeat; but liberty dates from it though Warren lay dead on the field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-phillips/liberty-knows-nothing-but-victories-soldiers-call-bunker-hill-a/) [Wendell Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-phillips/) > [“On the other hand, a white shoemaker wrote in 1848 in the Awl, the newspaper of Lynn shoe factory workers: . . . we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/on-the-other-hand-a-white-shoemaker-wrote-in-1848-in-the-awl-the/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [“I said. “I’m fine. I have a little bit of a head ache, but I’m not dizzy or nauseous. I can walk and talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-richards/i-said-i-m-fine-i-have-a-little-bit-of-a-head-ache-but-i-m-not-dizzy/) [J.M. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-richards/) > [I declare that civil war is inevitable and is near at hand. When it comes the descendants of the heroes of Lexington and Bunker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/i-declare-that-civil-war-is-inevitable-and-is-near-at-hand-when-it-2/) [Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) > [The studio are making a lot of good noises about 'Bunker Hill;' so it would be great if that goes ahead. We had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-curran/the-studio-are-making-a-lot-of-good-noises-about-bunker-hill-so-it/) [Tony Curran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-curran/) > [July 4, 1776 was the historic day on which the representatives of three millions of people vocalized Concord, and Lexington, and Bunker Hill, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/july-4-1776-was-the-historic-day-on-which-the-representatives-of/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) [Browse all 15 Bunker hill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bunker-hill/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I declare that civil war is inevitable and is near at hand. When it comes the descendants of the heroes of Lexington and Bunker Hill will be found equal in patriotism, courage and heroic endurance with the descendants of the heroes of Cowpens and YorkI declare that civil war is inevitable and is near at hand. When it comes the descendants of the heroes of Lexington and Bunker Hill will be found equal in patriotism, courage and heroic endurance with the descendants of the heroes of Cowpens and York", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sam Houston" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/i-declare-that-civil-war-is-inevitable-and-is-near-at-hand-when-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bunker hill" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/i-declare-that-civil-war-is-inevitable-and-is-near-at-hand-when-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/sam-houston-13388_civil-war_i-declare-that-civil-war-is-inevitable-a_1002966.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/sam-houston-13388_civil-war_i-declare-that-civil-war-is-inevitable-a_1002966.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/sam-houston-13388_civil-war_i-declare-that-civil-war-is-inevitable-a_1002966.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I declare that civil war is inevitable and is near at hand. When it comes the descendants of the heroes of…” — Sam Houston", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sam Houston", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I declare that civil war is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/i-declare-that-civil-war-is-inevitable-and-is-near-at-hand-when-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/i-declare-that-civil-war-is-inevitable-and-is-near-at-hand-when-it/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```