Quotes from Abraham Lincoln

I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.

I have always thought that all men should be free; but if any should be slaves, it should be first those who desire it for themselves, and secondly those who desire it for others. Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.

Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition. Whether it be true or not, I can say for one that I have no other so great as that of being truly esteemed of my fellow men, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem.

"A house divided against itself cannot stand." I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved—I do not expect the house to fall—but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other.

Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.

The people will save their government, if the government itself will allow them.

Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration. Capital has its rights, which are as worthy of protection as any other rights.

He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help.

My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could do it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that.

Washington's is the mightiest name of earth - long since mightiest in the cause of civil liberty; still mightiest in moral reformation. On that name no eulogy is expected. It cannot be. To add brightness to the sun, or glory to the name of Washington, is alike impossible. Let none attempt it. In solemn awe pronounce the name, and in its naked deathless splendor leave it shining on.

As President, I have no eyes but constitutional eyes; I cannot see you.

The time comes upon every public man when it is best for him to keep his lips closed.

The highest art is always the most religious, and the greatest artist is always a devout person.

How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.

On the first day of January in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any state, or designated part of a state, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.

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.

Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.

With the fearful strain that is on me night and day, if I did not laugh I should die.

It has long been a grave question whether any government, not too strong for the liberties of its people, can be strong enough to maintain its existence in great emergencies.

The things I want to know are in books my best friend is the man who'll get me a book I ain't read.

It is rather for us here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.

I hope to stand firm enough to not go backward, and yet not go forward fast enough to wreck the country's cause.

If there ever could be a proper time for mere catch arguments, that time surely is not now. In times like the present, men should utter nothing for which they would not willingly be responsible through time and in eternity.

What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried?