--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Retreat? NO. I propose to attach at…" description: "\"Retreat? NO. I propose to attach at daylight and whip them.\" — Ulysses S. Grant" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67b/ulysses-s-grant-1793_civil-war_retreat-no-i-propose-to-attach-at-daylig_2725328.jpg" --- # Retreat? NO. I propose to attach at daylight and whip them. ![“Retreat? NO. I propose to attach at daylight and whip them.” quote by Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67b/ulysses-s-grant-1793_civil-war_retreat-no-i-propose-to-attach-at-daylig_2725328.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67b/ulysses-s-grant-1793_civil-war_retreat-no-i-propose-to-attach-at-daylig_2725328.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67b/ulysses-s-grant-1793_civil-war_retreat-no-i-propose-to-attach-at-daylig_2725328.jpg) > “Retreat? NO. I propose to attach at daylight and whip them.” [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. The speaker advocates confronting challenges directly and aggressively, using daylight as a metaphor for transparency and decisive action. **In simple terms:** Attack problems head‑on with clarity. Key Takeaway Confront issues boldly. Themes courage directness action Mood determined assertive Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - warfare - political campaigns - business negotiations - personal conflicts Key Concepts military strategy leadership Questions to Reflect On - How can one balance aggression with diplomacy? - When is a softer approach wiser? A Different Perspective Aggressive tactics may cause unnecessary harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attach Daylight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attach-daylight-2912910/) [Civil war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) [Daylight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daylight/) [Daylight Whip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daylight-whip-2912909/) [Propose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propose/) [Propose Attach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propose-attach-2912911/) [Retreat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retreat/) [Retreat Propose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retreat-propose-2912908/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Whips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whips/) ## Related quotes > [...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/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [This is what it's all about. From what I could see, you could get a bunch of people together, whip up the press and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/this-is-what-it-s-all-about-from-what-i-could-see-you-could-get-a/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [Whips and chains, handcuffs, smack a little body up with my belt. Scream, help play my game, dracula man, I'll get my fangs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludacris/whips-and-chains-handcuffs-smack-a-little-body-up-with-my-belt-scream/) [Ludacris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludacris/) > [They who study mankind with a whip in their hands will always go wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/they-who-study-mankind-with-a-whip-in-their-hands-will-always-go-wrong/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Return to Shaoshan I regret the passing, the dying, of the vague dream: my native orchards thirty-two years ago. 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McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-b-mcclellan/) > [And now, what has Anarchism to say to all this, this bankruptcy of republicanism, this modern empire that has grown up on the ruins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltairine-de-cleyre/and-now-what-has-anarchism-to-say-to-all-this-this-bankruptcy-of/) [Voltairine de Cleyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltairine-de-cleyre/) > [ The only thing is that ordinarily when I do dance with \[women\] they think I am suddenly going to throw them over a table… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/the-only-thing-is-that-ordinarily-when-i-do-dance-with-women-they/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [I ache for the touch of your lips dear, but much more for the touch of your whips dear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/i-ache-for-the-touch-of-your-lips-dear-but-much-more-for-the-touch-of/) [Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/) > [Words are as recalcitrant as circus animals, and the unskilled trainer can crack his whip at them in vain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-brenan/words-are-as-recalcitrant-as-circus-animals-and-the-unskilled-trainer/) [Gerald Brenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-brenan/) ## More by Ulysses S. 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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 Civil war quotes > [“Time overlaps itself. A breath breathed from a passing breeze is not the whole wind, neither is it just the last of what has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/time-overlaps-itself-a-breath-breathed-from-a-passing-breeze-is-not/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [“Whatever happened in those more than one hundred years, from the time my great-great-great grandfather studied law to the time when my own father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwenn-wright/whatever-happened-in-those-more-than-one-hundred-years-from-the-time/) [Gwenn Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwenn-wright/) > [“AUSTRALIA, LIKE THE UNITED STATES, experienced a different path to inclusive institutions than the one taken by England. 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