And then, there will be some black men who can remember that, with silent tongue, and clenched teeth, and steady eye, and well-poised bayonnet, they have helped mankind on to this great consummation.

I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel were felt by the whole human race, there would not be one cheerful face left on earth.

As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew.

Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.

Elections belong to the people. It's their decision.

If there is anything that links the human to the divine, it is the courage to stand by a principle when everybody else rejects it.

...I do not mean to say that this general government is charged with the duty of redressing or preventing all the wrongs in the world; but I do think that it is charged with the duty of preventing and redressing all wrongs which are wrongs to itself.