As a nation, we began by declaring that 'all men are created equal.' We now practically read it 'all men are created equal, except negroes.' When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.

He can compress the most words into the smallest ideas of any man I ever met.

We must not promise what we ought not, lest we be called on to perform what we cannot.

Every man has a right to be equal with every other man.

Care for him who shall have borne the battle

The assertion that 'all men are created equal' was of no practical use in effecting our separation from Great Britain and it was placed in the Declaration not for that, but for future use.

Property is the fruit of labor; property is desirable; it is a positive good.