The war... was an unnecessary condition of affairs, and might have been avoided if forebearance and wisdom had been practiced on both sides.

No day should be lived unless it was begun with a prayer of thankfulness and an intercession for guidance.

While we see the Course of the final abolition of human Slavery is onward, & we give it the aid of our prayers & all justifiable means in our power, we must leave the progress as well as the result in his hands who sees the end; who Chooses to work by slow influences; & with whom two thousand years are but as a Single day.

We made a great mistake in the beginning of our struggle, and I fear, in spite of all we can do, it will prove to be a fatal mistake. We appointed all our worst generals to command our armies, and all our best generals to edit the newspapers

Act with a determination not to be turned aside by thoughts of the past and fears of the future.

Obedience to lawful authority is the foundation of manly character.

Whither shall I flee? To no country on earth that I know of where there is as much liberty as yet remains to me even in Virginia.