American citizen Quote by Ulysses S. Grant
““I would not have the anniversaries of our victories celebrated, nor those of our defeats made fast days and spent in humiliation and prayer; but I would like to see truthful history written. Such history will do full credit to the courage, endurance and soldierly ability of the American citizen, no matter what section of the country he hailed from, or in what ranks he fought. The justice of the cause which in the end prevailed, will, I doubt not, come to be acknowledged by every citizen of the land, in time. For the present, and so long as there are living witnesses of the great war of sections, there will be people who will not be consoled for the loss of a cause which they believed to be holy. As time passes, people, even of the South, will begin to wonder how it was possible that their ancestors ever fought for or justified institutions which acknowledged the right of property in man.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Address to the Nation, 1865, United States Congress
He urges truthful history that credits the bravery and skill of all American citizens, regardless of region or rank, and warns that future generations will question the morality of past conflicts.
In simple terms: Call for honest history that honors all soldiers and questions past causes.
Key Takeaway
Remember all perspectives in history.
Themes
history
honor
morality
memory
war
citizenship
Mood
reflective
somber
thoughtful
Type
historical
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- education curricula
- public memorials
- family storytelling
- museum exhibits
Key Concepts
courage
endurance
justice
historical revisionism
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance honoring sacrifice with confronting moral failures?
- What role should historians play in shaping collective memory?
A Different Perspective
Historical narratives can be selective, omitting uncomfortable truths.
![“We are sometimes asked in the name of patriotism to forget the merits of this fearful struggle [the Civil War], and to remember with equal admiration those who struck at the nation’s life, and those who struck to save it—those who fought for slavery, and those who fought for liberty and justice. I…” quote by Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/886/frederick-douglass-859_civil-war_we-are-sometimes-asked-in-the-name-of-pa_1761326.jpg)
