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The one thing I never want to see again is a military parade. When I resigned from the army and went to a farm I was happy. When the rebellion came, I returned to the service because it was a duty. I had no thought of rank; all I did was try and make.
Ulysses S. Grant
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Ulysses S. Grant reflects on his preference for peaceful life over military displays, emphasizing duty over ambition.

In this quote, Ulysses S. Grant expresses a desire for a life devoid of the pomp and circumstance of military parades, indicating his preference for the simplicity and fulfillment he found in farming after leaving the army. His return to military service during a rebellion is portrayed not as a pursuit of glory or rank, but as a fulfilling response to his sense of duty, highlighting the complex relationship between personal happiness, responsibility, and the burdens of leadership.

Themes

DutyHappinessServiceMilitaryLife Choices

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be shared at a veterans' gathering to emphasize the importance of duty over ambition.

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When news of the surrender first reached our lines our men commenced firing a salute of a hundred guns in honor of the victory. I at once sent word, however, to have it stopped. The Confederates were now our prisoners, and we did not want to exult over their downfall.
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I have made it a rule of my life to trust a man long after other people gave him up, but I don't see how I can ever trust any human being again.
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A hero does for others. He would do anything for people he loves, because he knows it would make their lives better. I am not that kind of person, but I want you to be. You could give something to her, to me, to those children in the quarter. You could give something I never could ... The white people out there are saying you don't have it-that you're a hog, not a man. But I know they are wrong.
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Quote by Ulysses S. Grant | QuoteProject