Without slavery the rebellion could never have existed; without slavery it could not continue.

I have always believed that a good laugh was good for both the mental and physical digestion.

In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow-countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war.

It is difficult to make a man miserable while he feels worthy of himself and claims kindred to the great God who made him.

When I left Springfield [to become President] I asked the people to pray for me. I was not a Christian. When I buried my son, the severest trial of my life, I was not a Christian. But when I went to Gettysburg and saw the graves of thousands of our soldiers, I then and there consecrated myself to Christ.

Well, I wish some of you would tell me the brand of whiskey that Grant drinks. I would like to send a barrel of it to my other generals.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.