I have an irrepressible desire to live till I can be assured that the world is a little better for my having lived in it.

The fiery trials through which we pass will light us down in honor or dishonor to the latest generation.

What constitutes the bulwark of our own liberty and independence? It is not...the guns of our war steamers, or the strength of our gallant and disciplined army...our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in our bosoms...

No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.

We better know there is a fire whence we see much smoke rising than we could know it by one or two witnesses swearing to it. The witnesses may commit perjury, but the smoke cannot.

The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just.

I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause. I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views.