Kings had always been involving and impoverishing their people in wars, pretending generally, if not always, that the good of the people was the object

I think that God means that we shall do more than we have yet done in furtherance of his plans and he will open the way for our doing it.

When the white man governs himself, that is self-government; but when he governs himself and also governs another man, that is more than self-government-that is despotism.

My Dear McClellan, if you don't want to use the army I should like to borrow it for a while. Yours respectfully.

There is an important sense in which government is distinctive from administration. One is perpetual, the other is temporary and changeable. A man may be loyal to his government and yet oppose the particular principles and methods of administration.

I intend no modification of my oft-expressed wish that all men everywhere could be free.

Now if you should hear any one say that Lincoln don't [sic] want to go to Congress, I wish you as a personal friend of mine, wouldtell him that you have reason to believe he is mistaken.