Gratefully accepting the proffered honor, [to inscribe a new legal work to him] I give the leave, begging only that the inscription may be in modest terms, not representing me as a man of great learning, or a very extraordinary one in any respect.

I cannot speak so confidently about the fighting qualities of the Eastern men, or what are called Yankees - not knowing myself particularly to whom the appellation belongs - but this I do know - if the Southerners think that man for man they are better than our Illinois men, or western men generally, they will discover themselves in a grievous mistake.

My old father used to have a saying: If you make a bad bargain, hug it all the tighter.

Will springs from the two elements of moral sense and self-interest.

I confess I hate to see the poor creatures hunted down but I bite my lip and keep quiet.

Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.

Prosperity is the fruit of labor. It begins with saving money.