no man who is resolved to make the most of himself can spare time for personal contention, still less can he afford to take the consequences, including the vitiation of his temper and the loss of self control, yield to larger things to which you show no more than equal rights, and yield to lesser ones though clearly your own, better give your path to a dog, than be bitten by him in contesting for the right, not even killing the dog, will cure the bite

I am not a very sentimental man; and the best sentiment I can think of is, that if you collect the signatures of all persons who are no less distinguished than I, you will have a very undistinguishing mass of names.

Believing everybody is dangerous, but believing nobody is more dangerous.

I was losing interest in politics, when the repeal of the Missouri Compromise aroused me again. What I have done since then is pretty well known.

I am very little inclined on any occasion to say anything unless I hope to produce some good by it.

The ballot is stronger than the bullet.

You have more of a feeling of personal resentment than I have. Perhaps, I have too little of it, but I never thought it paid.