We want, and must have, a national policy, as to slavery, which deals with it as being wrong.

I will say, then, that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races: that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people.

you can't escape tomorrow's responsibilities by evading it today

Abraham Lincoln was asked by an aide about the church service he had attended. Lincoln responded that the minister was inspired, interesting, well-prepared, eloquent and the topic relevant. The aide said, “Then it was a good service?” Lincoln responded, “No.” The aide protested, “But, Mr. President, you said that the minister was inspired, interesting, well-prepared, eloquent, and that the topic was relevant.” “Yes,” replied Lincoln, “but he didn’t challenge us to do any great thing.

I care not much for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it.

Honest statesmanship is the wise employment of individual meanness for the public good.

The principles of Jefferson are the definitions and axioms of free society.