--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I travelled through the Northwest…" description: "\"“I travelled through the Northwest considerably during the winter of 1860-61. We had customers in all the little towns in southwest Wisconsin, southeas..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/ulysses-s-grant-1793_northwest_i-travelled-through-the-northwest-consid_2701342.jpg" --- # I travelled through the Northwest considerably during the… ![“I travelled through the Northwest considerably during the winter of 1860-61. We had customers in all the little towns in southwest Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa. These generally knew I had been a captain in the regular army and had served through the Mexican war. Consequently…” quote by Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/ulysses-s-grant-1793_northwest_i-travelled-through-the-northwest-consid_2701342.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/ulysses-s-grant-1793_northwest_i-travelled-through-the-northwest-consid_2701342.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/ulysses-s-grant-1793_northwest_i-travelled-through-the-northwest-consid_2701342.jpg) > ““I travelled through the Northwest considerably during the winter of 1860-61. We had customers in all the little towns in southwest Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa. These generally knew I had been a captain in the regular army and had served through the Mexican war. Consequently wherever I stopped for the night, some of the people would come to the public house where I was, and sit till a late hour discussing the probabilities of the future.”” [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Grant reflects on post‑war travel, noting how his military reputation draws locals to discuss future possibilities in taverns. **In simple terms:** His past service makes people seek his insight about what's ahead. Key Takeaway Leverage experience to engage others in forward‑looking dialogue. Themes reputation community future conversation Mood contemplative nostalgic Type historical reflective When to use this quote - traveling salesman - small‑town gatherings - post‑war reconstruction - public house discussions Key Concepts post‑war America social dynamics military influence Questions to Reflect On - How does personal reputation shape community discourse? - What future concerns dominated frontier towns after the war? A Different Perspective His perspective is limited to anecdotal observations, not systematic analysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mexican War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mexican-war/) [Northwest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/northwest/) [Northwest Considerably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/northwest-considerably-2736132/) [Travelled Northwest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travelled-northwest-2736130/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Winter 1860](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winter-1860-2736131/) ## Related quotes > [“The Southern rebellion was largely the outgrowth of the Mexican war. Nations, like individuals, are punished for their transgressions. We got our punishment in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/the-southern-rebellion-was-largely-the-outgrowth-of-the-mexican-war-2/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“\[The Mexican war made three presidential candidates, Scott, Taylor and Pierce—and any number of aspirants for that high office. It made also governors of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/the-mexican-war-made-three-presidential-candidates-scott-taylor-and/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“Now Mexico has a standing army larger than that of the United States. They have a military school modelled after West Point. Their officers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/now-mexico-has-a-standing-army-larger-than-that-of-the-united-states/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [The Southern rebellion was largely the outgrowth of the Mexican war. Nations, like individuals, are punished for their transgressions. We got our punishment in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/the-southern-rebellion-was-largely-the-outgrowth-of-the-mexican-war/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“His eyes ran over her hungrily. “I couldn’t get it out of my mind,” he said, almost to himself, “the way it felt, back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/his-eyes-ran-over-her-hungrily-i-couldn-t-get-it-out-of-my-mind-he/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) > [ “A prominent Chicago politician, Justin Butterfield, asked if he was against the Mexican War, replied: “no, I opposed one War \[the War of 1812\].… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/a-prominent-chicago-politician-justin-butterfield-asked-if-he-was/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [“Thus, in that inevitable taking of sides which comes from selection and emphasis in history, I prefer to try to tell the story of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/thus-in-that-inevitable-taking-of-sides-which-comes-from-selection/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Historically, the argument is we stole the country from the Indians. America stole the labor of African Americans for over 200 years under slavery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-d-souza/historically-the-argument-is-we-stole-the-country-from-the-indians/) [Dinesh D'Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-d-souza/) > [In 1848, Thoreau went to jail for refusing, as a protest against the Mexican war, to pay his poll tax. When RW Emerson came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-1848-thoreau-went-to-jail-for-refusing-as-a-protest-against-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“The casualties at Antietam numbered four times the total suffered by American soldiers at the Normandy beaches on June 6, 1944. More than twice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-mcpherson/the-casualties-at-antietam-numbered-four-times-the-total-suffered-by/) [James M. McPherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-mcpherson/) > [Abraham Lincoln spoke out against the Mexican War. But once Americans were under fire, people who were on the fence felt obliged to support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/abraham-lincoln-spoke-out-against-the-mexican-war-but-once-americans/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [“The American Anti-Slavery Society, on the other hand, said the war was “waged solely for the detestable and horrible purpose of extending and perpetuating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/the-american-anti-slavery-society-on-the-other-hand-said-the-war-was/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [At the beginning, Lincoln was so inexperienced he had reverence for military expertise, not realizing that there wasn't any military expertise, that the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-herbert-donald/at-the-beginning-lincoln-was-so-inexperienced-he-had-reverence-for/) [David Herbert Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-herbert-donald/) > [ “It \[the Mexican War\] was a training ground for generals, so that when the sad self-murders settled on us, the leaders knew the techniques… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/it-the-mexican-war-was-a-training-ground-for-generals-so-that-when/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“At 8:08 a.m. on July 23, 1885, Grant died so gently that nobody was quite certain at first that his spirit had stolen away.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/at-8-08-a-m-on-july-23-1885-grant-died-so-gently-that-nobody-was/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) ## More by Ulysses S. Grant > [“In the early days of the country, before we had railroads, telegraphs and steamboats—in a word, rapid transit of any sort—the States were each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/in-the-early-days-of-the-country-before-we-had-railroads-telegraphs/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“The much talked of surrendering of Lee’s sword and my handing it back, this and much more that has been said about it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/the-much-talked-of-surrendering-of-lee-s-sword-and-my-handing-it-back/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“General Lee was dressed in a full uniform which was entirely new, and was wearing a sword of considerable value, very likely the sword…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/general-lee-was-dressed-in-a-full-uniform-which-was-entirely-new-and/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“The great bulk of the legal voters of the South were men who owned no slaves; their homes were generally in the hills and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/the-great-bulk-of-the-legal-voters-of-the-south-were-men-who-owned-no/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [If we are to have another contest in the near future of our national existence, I predict that the dividing line will not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/if-we-are-to-have-another-contest-in-the-near-future-of-our-national/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [...but for a soldier his duty is plain. He is to obey the orders of all those placed over him and whip the enemy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/but-for-a-soldier-his-duty-is-plain-he-is-to-obey-the-orders-of-all/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“I was afraid, every morning, that I would awake from my sleep to hear that Lee had gone, and that nothing was left but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-was-afraid-every-morning-that-i-would-awake-from-my-sleep-to-hear/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“The efforts to kill off politically the two successful generals, made them both candidates for the Presidency. General Taylor was nominated in 1848, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/the-efforts-to-kill-off-politically-the-two-successful-generals-made/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [Hold fast to the Bible. To the influence of this Book we are indebted for all the progress made in true civilization and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/hold-fast-to-the-bible-to-the-influence-of-this-book-we-are-indebted/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“The fact is the constitution did not apply to any such contingency as the one existing from 1861 to 1865. Its framers never dreamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/the-fact-is-the-constitution-did-not-apply-to-any-such-contingency-as/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [It was my fortune, or misfortune, to be called to the office of Chief Executive without any previous political training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/it-was-my-fortune-or-misfortune-to-be-called-to-the-office-of-chief/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [No other terms than unconditional and immediate surrender. I propose to move immediately upon your works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/no-other-terms-than-unconditional-and-immediate-surrender-i-propose/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [I would suggest the taxation of all property equally whether church or corporation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-would-suggest-the-taxation-of-all-property-equally-whether-church/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [I know only two tunes: one of them is 'Yankee Doodle,' and the other isn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-know-only-two-tunes-one-of-them-is-yankee-doodle-and-the-other-isn-t/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“I could have allowed myself more time. I have used my best efforts, with the aid of my eldest son, F. D. Grant, assisted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-could-have-allowed-myself-more-time-i-have-used-my-best-efforts/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) [Explore all 208 Ulysses S. Grant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) ## More Northwest quotes > [When I came to the Pacific Northwest, it was a dream come true for me, you know? I wrestled there every Saturday and then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-snuka/when-i-came-to-the-pacific-northwest-it-was-a-dream-come-true-for-me/) [Jimmy Snuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-snuka/) > [“Already, Seattle is taking hold of her. She still holds Sedona in the dry tan of her skin and in her hair, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wiggs/already-seattle-is-taking-hold-of-her-she-still-holds-sedona-in-the/) [Susan Wiggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wiggs/) > [In the night there's sometimes a sort of cursed quality to the Pacific Northwest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/panos-cosmatos/in-the-night-there-s-sometimes-a-sort-of-cursed-quality-to-the/) [Panos Cosmatos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/panos-cosmatos/) > [The Snake and Columbia river system is vital to the Pacific Northwest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers/the-snake-and-columbia-river-system-is-vital-to-the-pacific-northwest/) [Cathy McMorris Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers/) > [I love the house in 'North by Northwest.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-bird/i-love-the-house-in-north-by-northwest/) [Brad Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-bird/) > [I'm from outside Philadelphia, a town called Wayne, which is, like, 25 minutes northwest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbi-jacobson/i-m-from-outside-philadelphia-a-town-called-wayne-which-is-like-25/) [Abbi Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbi-jacobson/) > [I don't think I would live outside of the Northwest. I think the quality of life in Portland is really good. People move from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-don-t-think-i-would-live-outside-of-the-northwest-i-think-the/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [There's something about the Pacific Northwest, the scale of it, and the fact that not so long ago people came here and died getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-cain/there-s-something-about-the-pacific-northwest-the-scale-of-it-and-the/) [Chelsea Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-cain/) > [I am such a Pacific Northwest girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/i-am-such-a-pacific-northwest-girl/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [Not considering this opening worthy of more attention, I continued our pursuit to the Northwest, being desirous to embrace the advantages of the prevailing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-vancouver/not-considering-this-opening-worthy-of-more-attention-i-continued-our/) [George Vancouver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-vancouver/) > [We've been everywhere around Northwest. I was biking until the clouds came. We'll go in the woods, we'll go up and down the river.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-giuntoli/we-ve-been-everywhere-around-northwest-i-was-biking-until-the-clouds/) [David Giuntoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-giuntoli/) > [I started performing at home as a kid putting on shows and lip-syncing Michael Jackson for the grown-ups. Then, in musicals and plays in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/i-started-performing-at-home-as-a-kid-putting-on-shows-and-lip/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [My ancestors are Highland Scots, and my father's home in north Alabama is so much like northwest Arkansas. I have the same allergies in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-gilchrist/my-ancestors-are-highland-scots-and-my-father-s-home-in-north-alabama/) [Ellen Gilchrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-gilchrist/) > [The Northwest is in better shape than it was eight years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-babbitt/the-northwest-is-in-better-shape-than-it-was-eight-years-ago/) [Bruce Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-babbitt/) > [I'm from Oakland and San Francisco, so I feel like the Pacific Northwest starts there and goes north - so, it's home to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-trevorrow/i-m-from-oakland-and-san-francisco-so-i-feel-like-the-pacific/) [Colin Trevorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-trevorrow/) [Browse all 45 Northwest quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/northwest/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I travelled through the Northwest considerably during the winter of 1860-61. We had customers in all the little towns in southwest Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa. These generally knew I had been a captain in the regular army and had served through the Mexican war. Consequently wherever I stopped for the night, some of the people would come to the public house where I was, and sit till a late hour discussing the probabilities of the future.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ulysses S. Grant" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-travelled-through-the-northwest-considerably-during-the-winter-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Northwest" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-travelled-through-the-northwest-considerably-during-the-winter-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/ulysses-s-grant-1793_northwest_i-travelled-through-the-northwest-consid_2701342.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/ulysses-s-grant-1793_northwest_i-travelled-through-the-northwest-consid_2701342.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/ulysses-s-grant-1793_northwest_i-travelled-through-the-northwest-consid_2701342.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I travelled through the Northwest considerably during the winter of 1860-61. We had customers in all the…” — Ulysses S. Grant", "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": "Ulysses S. Grant", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I travelled through the Northwest considerably...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-travelled-through-the-northwest-considerably-during-the-winter-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-travelled-through-the-northwest-considerably-during-the-winter-of/#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 } } ] } ```