We better know there is a fire whence we see much smoke rising than we could know it by one or two witnesses swearing to it. The witnesses may commit perjury, but the smoke cannot.

The power of hope upon human exertion, and happiness, is wonderful.

Should my administration prove to be a very wicked one...or a very foolish one, if you, the people, are true to yourselves and the Constitution, there is little harm I can do, thank God.

We all declare for liberty, but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing.

The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here so nobly advanced.

I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country.

Reputation is like fine china: Once broken it's very hard to repair.