Abraham Lincoln Quotes - Page 2

Force is all-conquering but its victories are short-lived.

The fiery trials through which we pass will light us down in honor or dishonor to the last generation.

Every man over forty is responsible for his face.

Marriage is neither heaven nor hell it is simply purgatory.

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

Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.

Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves and under a just God cannot long retain it.

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

in times like the present, men should utter nothing for which they would not willingly be responsible through time and eternity.

One company can serve some of your needs all of the time, or all of your needs some of the time, but never both.

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

Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new after all.

To ease another’s heartache is to forget one’s own.

Achievement has no COLOR.

My dear Sir.Yours of the 13th. is just received. My engagements are such that I can not, at any very early day, visit Rock-Island, to deliver a lecture, or for any other object.As to the other matter you kindly mention, I must, in candor, say I do not think myself fit for the Presidency. I certainly am flattered, and gratified, that some partial friends think of me in that connection; but I really think it best for our cause that no concerted effort, such as you suggest, should be made.Let this be considered confidential. Yours very truly,{Abraham Lincoln}

Writing is the great invention of the world.

Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be pretty rapid. As a nation, we began by declaring that 'all men are created equal.' We now practically read it, 'all men are created equal, except negroes.' When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read, 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty—to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.

Whatever you are, be a good one.

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to success is more important than any other one thing.

As a nation, we began by declaring that 'all men are created equal.' We now practically read it 'all men are created equal, except negroes.' When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.

While the people retain their virtue, and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government, in the short space of four years.

The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time.

Democracy is the government of the people by the people for the people.

The Lord prefers common-looking people. That is why he made so many of them.

I am growing old enough not to care much for the MANNER of doing things.

Don't believe everything you read on the Internet.

Get books, sit yourself down anywhere, and go to reading them yourself.

Take all that you can of this book upon reason, and the balance on faith, and you will live and die a happier man. (When a skeptic expressed surprise to see him reading a Bible)

Your own resolution to success is more important than any other one thing.

I don't know who my grandfather was I am much more concerned to know what his grandson will be.

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

Seriously I do not think I am fit for the presidency.

With high hope for the future no prediction is ventured.

The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly.

All that I am or hope to be I owe to my angel mother.

If this country is ever demoralized, it will come from trying to live without work.

In this sad world of ours sorrow comes to all and it often comes with bitter agony. Perfect relief is not possible except with time. You cannot now believe that you will ever feel better. But this is not true. You are sure to be happy again. Knowing this, truly believing it will make you less miserable now. I have had enough experience to make this statement.

The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battle-field, and patriot grave, to every living heart and hearth-stone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.--as quoted in THE RIVER OF WINGED DREAMS

The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just.

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.

I was a little cross.I ask pardon. If I do get up a little temper I have no sufficient time to keep it up.

While the people retain their virtue and vigilence no administration by any extreme of wickedness or folly can very seriously injure the government in the short space of four years.

God must have loved the plain people: He made so many of them.

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

In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and, to the young, it comes with bitterest agony, because it takes them unawares. The older have learned to ever expect it. I am anxious to afford some alleviation of your present distress. Perfect relief is not possible, except with time. You can not now realize that you will ever feel better. Is not this so? And yet it is a mistake. You are sure to be happy again. To know this, which is certainly true, will make you some less miserable now. I have had experience enough to know what I say; and you need only to believe it, to feel better at once.

Let no feeling of discouragement prey upon you and in the end you are sure to succeed.

I don't like to hear cut and dried sermons. No—when I hear a man preach, I like to see him act as if he were fighting bees.

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

I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts, and beer.

As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy.

In regards to this great Book [the Bible], I have but to say it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this Book. But for it we could not know right from wrong. All things most desirable for man's welfare, here and hereafter, are found portrayed in it.

It is difficult to make a man miserable while he feels worthy of himself and claims kindred to the great God who made him.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.

I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to what light I have.

I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be new views.

I fear you do not fully comprehend the danger of abridging the liberties of the people. Nothing but the very sternest necessity can ever justify it. A government had better go to the very extreme of toleration, than to do aught that could be construed into an interference with, or to jeopardize in any degree, the common rights of its citizens.

I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end ... I have lost every other friend on earth I shall at least have one friend left and that friend shall be down inside of me.

In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free -- honorable alike in what we give, and what we preserve. We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of earth

There has never been but one question in all civilization-how to keep a few men from saying to many men: You work and earn bread and we will eat it.

The best way to predict your future is to create it.