My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union.

I desire to see the time when education, and by its means, morality, sobriety, enterprise and industry shall become much more general than at present.

The land, the earth God gave to man for his home ... should never be the possession of any man, corporation, (or) society ... any more than the air or water.

But let the past as nothing be. For the future my view is that the fight must go on.

I never tire of reading Tom Paine.

I can make brigadier generals, but i can't make horses.

Without Divine assistance I can not succeed; with it I can not fail.