User blog comment:Spritydove/Deeper Thought into the Civil War/@comment-3470121-20120703200651/@comment-5135631-20120707123413

@Thelonechosenwanderingvaultcourier I quote Ulfric here:
 * "I fight for the men I've held in my arms, dying on foreign soil! I fight for their wives and children, whose names I heard whispered in their last breath...I fight for we few who did come home, to find our land full of strangers wearing familiar faces! I fight for my people impoverished to pay the debts of an Empire too weak to rule them, yet brands them criminals for wanting to rule themselves! I fight so that all the fighting I've already done hasn't been for nothing! I fight... because I must."
 * ―Ulfric Stormcloak
 * I was in the Palace of the Kings when he said this, and he said it with feeling. That is just an example of how much he cares.
 * Galmar also said later that "Some say Ulfric desires the throne and nothing more...but have they not seen his anger floats on a sea of tears?" which I feel is very much true, just take a minute to think of all he has suffered during life.


 * Now, compare this to Tullius, who does not care for the Nord traditions and way of life. Then note that Tullius is in control of Elisif, who does care, but ultimately does not have the strength to keep the land strong enough.


 * My older brother, a newbie to the Elder Scrolls, yesterday noted that Ulfric is the only Jarl who is actually strong enough to lead the country. He is the most powerful and ambitious Jarl, and with the support of three others (Jarl Laila, Jarl Skald and Jarl Korir) as well as many soldiers, farmers, mercenaries and working men from around Skyrim who joined Ulfric's banner, he has enough support to fight the Empire on even terms in Skyrim. Some people ignore the fact he has the best claim to the throne and the fact that he would also clearly be the best leader for Skyrim, and note the perhaps xenephobic tone of his city. Windhelm only seems this way because the Dunmer are too proud to join Ulfric's cause, and so they dwell in the slums. Miles south, the Dunmer have swallowed their pride and assimilated themselves into Riften.


 * Perhaps Titus Mede II wasn't a coward, but he certaintly was a fool for giving up in a couple of strokes of ink what had taken five years to achieve through destructive warfare. The Thalmor were destroyed in Cyrodill, and the Empire wasn't in fighting shape either, he could have easily negotiated more fair terms, but he didn't have the imagination or courage to do so.