I want in all cases to do right.

I wish all men to be free. I wish the material prosperity of the already free which I feel sure the extinction of slavery would bring.

Too big to cry too young to laugh.

We can succeed only by concert. It is not 'can any of us imagine better?, but 'can we all do better?

It will not do to investigate the subject of religion too closely, as it is apt to lead to infidelity.

Important principles may, and must, be inflexible.

You may burn my body to ashes, and scatter them to the winds of heaven; you may drag my soul down to the regions of darkness and despair to be tormented forever; but you will never get me to support a measure which I believe to be wrong, although by doing so I may accomplish that which I believe to be right.