Abraham Lincoln Quotes

The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present.

No matter how much cats fight, there always seem to be plenty of kittens.

I have never had a feeling, politically, that did not spring from the Declaration of Independence that all should have an equal chance. This is the sentiment embodied in the Declaration of Independence, I would rather be assassinated on this spot than surrender it.

I will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. It is not the Constitution as I would like to have it, but as it is, that is to be defended. The Constitution will not be preserved & defended until it is enforced & obeyed in every part of every one of the United States. It must be so respected, obeyed, enforced and defended, and let the grass grow where it may.

I have no wealthy or popular relations to recommend me.

I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.

. . . peace is a thing which a person must be willing to fight for . . .

We think slavery a great moral wrong, and while we do not claim the right to touch it where it exists, we wish to treat it as a wrong in the territories, where our votes will reach it.

In my entire life I have only met four "perfect" people... and I disliked them all.

Nor must Uncle Sam's Web-feet be forgotten. At all the watery margins they have been present. Not only on the deep sea, the broadbay, and the rapid river, but also up the narrow muddy bayou, and wherever the ground was a little damp, they have been, and made their tracks.

The man does not live who is more devoted to peace than I am. None who would do more to preserve it.

I claim not to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have controlled me. Now, at the end of three years struggle the nation's condition is not what either party, or any man devised, or expected. God alone can claim it. Whither it is tending seems plain. If God now wills the removal of a great wrong, and wills also that we of the North as well as you of the South, shall pay fairly for our complicity in that wrong, impartial history will find therein new cause to attest and revere the justice and goodness of God.

Rules of living Don't worry, eat three square meals a day,say your prayers, be courteous to your creditors, keep your digestion good,steer clear of biliousness,exercise, go slow and go easy. May be there are other things that your special case requires to make you happy, but my friend, these, i reckon, will give you a good life.

My Best Friend is a person who will give me a book I have not read.

I can only say that I have acted upon my best convictions, without selfishness or malice, and that by the help of God I shall continue to do so.

The working men are the basis of all governments, for the plain reason that they are the most numerous.

The sense of obligation to continue is present in all of us. A duty to strive is the duty of us all. I felt a call to that duty.

I am busily engaged in study of the Bible.

While I have often said that all men out to be free, yet I would allow those colored persons to be slaves who want to be; and next to them those white persons who argue in favor of making other people slaves. I am in favor of giving an opportunity to such white men to try it on for themselves.

That everyone may receive at least a moderate education appears to be an objective of vital importance.

I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country.

If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it.

I am for those means which will give the greatest good to the greatest number.

The better part of one's life consists of his friendships.

A capacity and taste for reading gives access to whatever has already been discovered by others.

A long visit to a friend is often a great bore. Never make people twice glad.

I do not understand that because I do not want a negro woman for a slave I must necessarily want her for a wife. My understanding is that I can just let her alone.

Writing is the great invention of the world.

If there is no military need for the building, leave it alone, neither putting anyone in or out of it, except on finding some one preaching or practicing treason, in which case lay hands on him, just as if he were doing the same thing in any other building.

Upon the subject of education, not presuming to dictate any plan or system respecting it, I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people can be engaged in. That every man may receive at least a moderate education...appears to be an object of vital importance...

Our common country is in great peril, demanding the loftiest views, and boldest action to bring it speedy relief.

God bless the soldiers and seamen, with all their brave commanders.

Every head should be cultivated.

There was the strangest combination of church influence against me. Baker is a Campbellite; and therefore, as I suppose with few exceptions, got all of that Church. My wife had some relations in the Presbyterian churches, and some in the Episcopal churches; and therefore, wherever it would tell, I was set down as either one or the other, while it was everywhere contended that no Christian ought to vote for me because I belonged to no Church, and was suspected of being a Deist and had talked of fighting a duel.

Lets have faith that right makes might; and in that faith let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.

In the early days of the world, the Almighty said to the first of our race "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread"; and since then, if we except the light and the air of heaven, no good thing has been, or can be enjoyed by us, without having first cost labour.

What are you gonna do for a face when the baboon wants his ass back?

As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew.

Killing the dog does not cure the bite.

The loss of enemies does not compensate for the loss of friends.

Women are the only people I am afraid of who I never thought would hurt me

I could not sleep when I got on the hunt for an idea, until I had caught it. This was a kind of passion with me, and it has stuck with me.

In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free.

I'm a slow walker, but I never walk back.

The time has come when I am for everybody fighting the rebels. Let Indians fight them; let the Negroes fight them; and if you have got any strong-legged jackasses in Iwoa that can kick rebels to death, they have my hearty consent.

...I do not mean to say that this general government is charged with the duty of redressing or preventing all the wrongs in the world; but I do think that it is charged with the duty of preventing and redressing all wrongs which are wrongs to itself.

Its authors meant it to be... a stumbling block to those who in after times might seek to turn a free people back into the hateful paths of despotism. They knew the proneness of prosperity to breed tyrants, and they meant when such should re-appear in this fair land and commence their vocation they should find left for them at least one hard nut to crack.

These capitalists generally act harmoniously and in concert, to fleece the people.