Abraham Lincoln comes from nothing, has no education, no money, lives in the middle of nowhere on the frontier. And despite the fact that he suffers one tragedy and one setback after another, through sheer force of will, he becomes something extraordinary: not only the president but the person who almost single-handedly united the country.

What makes a good book and what makes a good movie are totally different things.

Abraham," he said. "I'm pleased to see you alive, old friend." "And I to see you dead.

If you write really good material, the rest just falls into place. There's really no trick to it.

The day Henry made a choice... that some men are just too interesting to die.

I've always enjoyed reading history, particularly presidential biographies.

Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do; for I shall not have my best warrior resigned to the service of a man who is fatter than Buddha and duller than the edge of a learning sword.