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.

The legitimate object of government is to do for a community of people whatever they need to have done, but can not do at all, or can not so well do, for themselves – in their separate, and individual capacities.

We accepted this war for an object, a worthy object, and the war will end when that object is attained. Under God, I hope it never will until that time.

The struggle of today is not altogether for today - it is for a vast future also.

Nothing will divert me from my purpose.

A friend is one who has the same enemies as you have.

To ease another’s heartache is to forget one’s own.