In law it is good policy to never plead what you need not, lest you oblige yourself to prove what you can not.

The way for a young man to rise is to improve himself in every way he can, never suspecting that anybody wishes to hinder him.

I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end... I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside of me.

If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what's said against me won't amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.

You think slavery is right and ought to be extended; while we think it is wrong and ought to be restricted. That I suppose is the rub. It certainly is the only substantial difference between us.

The health you enjoy is largely your choice

Extemporaneous speaking should be practised and cultivated. It is the lawyer's avenue to the public.