ABRAHAM LINCOLN QUOTES VIII

U.S. President (1809-1865)

I say, then, there is no way of putting an end to the slavery agitation amongst us but to put it back upon the basis where our fathers placed it, no way but to keep it out of our new Territories--to restrict it forever to the old States where it now exists. Then the public mind will rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction. That is one way of putting an end to the slavery agitation. The other way is for us to surrender and let Judge Douglas and his friends have their way and plant slavery over all the States--cease speaking of it as in any way a wrong--regard slavery as one of the common matters of property, and speak of negroes as we do of our horses and cattle.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

debate with Stephen Douglas, September 18, 1858


Towering genius disdains a beaten path. It seeks regions hitherto unexplored.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

speech, January 27, 1838

Tags: genius


Let north and south--let all Americans--let all lovers of liberty everywhere--join in the great and good work. If we do this, we shall not only have saved the Union; but we shall have so saved it, as to make, and to keep it, forever worthy of the saving. We shall have so saved it, that the succeeding millions of free happy people, the world over, shall rise up, and call us blessed, to the latest generations.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

speech at Peoria, Illinois, in reply to Senator Douglas, October 16, 1854


Henry Clay is dead. His long and eventful life is closed. Our country is prosperous and powerful; but could it have been quite all it has been, and is, and is to be, without Henry Clay? Such a man the times have demanded, and such in the providence of God was given us. But he is gone. Let us strive to deserve, as far as mortals may, the continued care of Divine Providence, trusting that in future national emergencies He will not fail to provide us the instruments of safety and security.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

eulogy on Henry Clay, delivered in the State House at Springfield, Illinois, July 16, 1852


I take it that I have to address an intelligent and reading community who will peruse what I say, weigh it, and then judge whether I advance improper or unsound views, or whether I advance hypocritical and deceptive and contrary views in different portions of the country. I believe myself to be guilty of no such thing as the latter, though, of course, I cannot claim that I am entirely free from all error in the opinions I advance.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

debate with Stephen Douglas, October 7, 1858


Stand by your principles, stand by your guns, and victory, complete and permanent, is sure at the last.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

speech in Chicago, March 1, 1859

Tags: victory


That perfect liberty they sigh for -- the liberty of making slaves of other people -- Jefferson never thought of, their own fathers never thought of, they never thought of themselves, a year ago. How fortunate for them they did not sooner become sensible of their great misery!

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

speech at Peoria, Illinois, in reply to Senator Douglas, October 16, 1854


When men take it in their heads to-day, to hang gamblers, or burn murderers, they should recollect, that, in the confusion usually attending such transactions, they will be as likely to hang or burn some one who is neither a gambler nor a murderer as one who is; and that, acting upon the example they set, the mob of to-morrow, may, and probably will, hang or burn some of them by the very same mistake. And not only so; the innocent, those who have ever set their faces against violations of law in every shape, alike with the guilty, fall victims to the ravages of mob law; and thus it goes on, step by step, till all the walls erected for the defense of the persons and property of individuals, are trodden down, and disregarded.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

address to the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois, January 27, 1838

Tags: mobs


We hope all danger may be overcome; but to conclude that no danger may ever arise would itself be extremely dangerous.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

address to the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois, January 27, 1838

Tags: danger


I would then like to know how it comes about that when each piece of a story is true, the whole story turns out to be false?

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

debate with Stephen Douglas, September 18, 1858

Tags: truth


The Bible says somewhere that we are desperately selfish. I think we would have discovered that fact without the Bible.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

debate with Stephen Douglas, October 15, 1858

Tags: selfishness


This declared indifference, but, as I must think, covert, real zeal, for the spread of slavery, I cannot but hate. I hate it because of the monstrous injustice of slavery itself. I hate it because it deprives our republican example of its just influence in the world, enables the enemies of free institutions with plausibility to taunt us as hypocrites, causes the real friends of freedom to doubt our sincerity, and especially because it forces so many good men among ourselves into an open war with the very fundamental principles of civil liberty, criticizing the Declaration of Independence, and insisting that there is no right principle of action but self-interest.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

speech, October 16, 1854


Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser -- in fees, expenses, and waste of time.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

notes for a law lecture, July 1, 1850?


We must not promise what we ought not, lest we be called on to perform what we cannot.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

speech at the first Republican state convention of Illinois, May 29, 1856

Tags: promises


The struggle for today is not altogether for today -- it is for a vast future also.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Annual Message to Congress, December 3, 1861

Tags: today


When you lack interest in the case the job will very likely lack skill and diligence in the performance.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

notes for a law lecture, July 1, 1850


If ever I feel the soul within me elevate and expand to those dimensions, not wholly unworthy of its almighty Architect, it is when I contemplate the cause of my country, deserted by all the world beside, and I standing up boldly, alone, hurling defiance at her victorious oppressors.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

speech to the Sub-Treasury, Sangamon Journal, March 6, 1840


I have now come to the conclusion never again to think of marrying, and for this reason; I can never be satisfied with anyone who would be blockhead enough to have me.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

letter to Mrs. Orville H. Browning, April 1, 1838

Tags: marriage


You say that if Kansas fairly votes herself a free State, as a Christian you will rejoice at it. All decent slaveholders talk that way, and I do not doubt their candor. But they never vote that way. Although in a private letter or conversation you will express your preference that Kansas shall be free, you would vote for no man for Congress who would say the same thing publicly. No such man could be elected from any district in a slave State.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

letter to Joshua F. Speed, August 22, 1855


I hope I am over wary; but if I am not, there is, even now, something of ill-omen, amongst us. I mean the increasing disregard for law which pervades the country; the growing disposition to substitute the wild and furious passions, in lieu of the sober judgment of Courts; and the worse than savage mobs, for the executive ministers of justice. This disposition is awfully fearful in any and that it now exists in ours, though grating to our feelings to admit, it would be a violation of truth and an insult to our intelligence to deny.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

address to the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois, January 27, 1838