All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.

No organic law can ever be framed with a provision specifically applicable to every question which may occur in practical administration. .. No foresight can anticipate nor any document of reasonable length contain express provisions for all possible questions.

I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day.

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.

Do not destroy that immortal emblem of humanity, the Declaration of Independence.

You can always lie to others and hide your actions from them... but you can not fool yourself

Twenty-two years ago Judge [then-Senator Stephen] Douglas and I first became acquainted. We were both young then; he a trifle younger than I. Even then, we were both ambitious; I, perhaps, quite as much so as he. With me, the race of ambition has been a failure--a flat failure; with him it has been one of splendid success.