I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel were felt by the whole human race, there would not be one cheerful face left on earth.

As to the whiskers, having never worn any, do you not think people would call it a piece of silly affectation if I were to begin it now?

I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord's side.

But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or to detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.

Our political problem now is, "Can we as a nation continue together permanently - forever - half slave and half free?"

But the proclamation, as law, either is valid, or is not valid. If it is not valid, it needs no retraction. If it is valid, it can not be retracted, any more than the dead can be brought to life.

Don't worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition.