Ulysses S Grant quote:

[everyonematters]

“If we are to have another contest in the near future of our national existence, I predict that the dividing line will not be Mason and Dixon's but between patriotism and intelligence on the one side, and superstition, ambition and ignorance on the other.”

[First Speaker]

1. The single most underrated American of all time...

...as general and President...

[TimeToGo]

6. Instructive quotation

Not sure he was a particularly good president, however. There have been worse, of course.

[grantcart]

11. When he left the Presidency he was the most universally admired man

On both sides of the Atlantic.

When he died his pall bearers were both Confederate and Union Generals.

While a great judge of battlefield character he was not able to make similar judgements on who to trust in business.

[Caliman73]

14. Very unfortunate in the selection of friends and associates to be sure.

He seemed a decent man and had good intentions, but perhaps was too trusting in allowing corrupt men around the levers of power. Lots of scandals.

[grantcart]

16. Scandals by others he appointed

He was also a victim. As he was dying of cancer he was virtually penniless and Mark Twain offered to produce his memoirs. His autobiography became one of the biggest publishing events of the 19th century and is still considered to be one of the best autobiography by a statesman in history and provided a steady retirement fund for his wife.

[babylonsister]

19. Thanks. Now I want to read all about him. nt

[NNadir]

13. I absolutely agree. His Presidency, like Lincoln's was essential.

[BootinUp]

2. Isn't that interesting. He saw it before and

We are still fighting it, into eternity.

[wnylib]

10. Basic human nature remains the same

over the centuries and millennia. That's why today we can relate to the themes and characters of ancient literature.

[Caliman73]

15. As others have said, it is a human condition.

In my opinion, the US has had a unique struggle, but likely most nations struggle with anti-intellectualism. There are those who believe that studying and learning about your world is one of the keys to a better life, and those who believe that there is an "intuitive sense" that we have and book learning corrupts it.

Funny thing is that whenever a dictator comes to power, they love to go after students and centers of learning first. That has to tell you something about the power of knowledge.

[soldierant]

21. Students - centers of learning - and the free press.

[Hoyt]

3. Problem is, trumpster rubes look at that and think they are the intelligent patriots.

[oasis]

7. Exactly. nt

[WHITT]

4. Grant In Letter To His Father And Sister

Whatever may have been my political opinions before, I have but one sentiment now. That is we have a Government, and laws and a flag and they must all be sustained. There are but two parties now, Traitors and Patriots and I want hereafter to be ranked with the latter and, I trust, the stronger party.

[Spider Jerusalem]

5. Nope, white supremacy is still America's fault line (n/t)

[Raine]

9. In the end though it comes down to intelligence vs stupidity 🤔

superiority being stupid and intelligence to know that it's stupid.

[cilla4progress]

8. Wow

prescient

[Brother Mythos]

12. I never read this quotation before today. Thanks for posting it. It is certainly ...

appropriate for the times we are now living in.

[BobTheSubgenius]

17. WOW!!!!

The more things change....

[Picaro]

18. Pretty much nailed that one...

[Ilsa]

20. I like Grant as a president. Of course, being from the

south I was taught that he was irrelevant and a drunk.