The only person who is a worse liar than a faith healer is his patient.

I hope to stand firm enough to not go backward, and yet not go forward fast enough to wreck the country's cause.

The government will support you to the utmost of its ability, which is neither more nor less than it has done and will do for allcommanders.

We believe that the spreading out and perpetuity of the institution of slavery impairs the general welfare. We believe - nay, we know, that that is the only thing that has ever threatened the perpetuity of the Union itself.

Towering genius disdains a beaten path ... It scorns to tread in the footsteps of any predecessor, however illustrious. It thirsts for distinction.

The person who is incapable of making a mistake, is incapable of anything.

When I have a particular case in hand, I have that motive and feel an interest in the case, feel an interest in ferreting out the questions to the bottom, love to dig up the question by the roots and hold it up and dry it before the fires of the mind.