The greatest lessons I have every learned were at my mother's knees... All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.

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.

Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.

Now if you should hear any one say that Lincoln don't [sic] want to go to Congress, I wish you as a personal friend of mine, wouldtell him that you have reason to believe he is mistaken.

This is a world of compensations; and he who would be no slave, must consent to have no slave.

I would rather be a little nobody, then to be a evil somebody.

I know not how to aid you, save in the assurance of one of mature age, and much severe experience, that you can not fail, if you resolutely determine, that you will not.