A house divided against itself cannot stand." I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.

Always let your subordinates know that the honor will be all theirs if they succeed and the blame will be yours if they fail.

I know the hole he went in at, but I can't tell you what hole he will come out of.

Legislation and adjudication must follow, and conform to, the progress of society.

Persuasion, kind, unassuming persuasion, should be adopted to influence the conduct of men. The opposite course would be a reversal of human nature, which is God's decree and can never be reversed.

I am in favor of a national bank...in favor of the internal improvements system and a high protective tariff.

Certainly there is no contending against the Will of God; but still there is some difficulty in ascertaining, and applying it, to particular cases.