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Abraham Lincoln Quotes

1809–1865 United States

Abraham Lincoln (12 February 1809 – 15 April 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. Initially entering politics as a Whig, he became a member of the US congress from Illinois, and later the first Republican president, leading Union forces throughout the moral, constitutional, political and military crises of the American Civil War, during which he abolished slavery and strengthened the U.S. government.

United States
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Also known as: Abe Lincoln, Abraham lincoln, Lincoln, Lincoln, Abraham, The Gettysburg Address

Random Abraham Lincoln quote

351 quotes

Perfect relief is not possible, except with time. You can not now realize that you will ever feel better.

It's my experience that folks who have no vices have generally very few virtues.

According to The Inner Life of Abraham Lincoln (1867)

As leaving some grand waterfall,
We, lingering, list its roar —
So memory will hallow all
We've known, but know no more.

My Childhood's Home I See Again (1844)

You say you are conservative — eminently conservative — while we are revolutionary, destructive, or something of the sort. What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried?

Cooper Union speech (1860)

With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed. Consequently he who moulds public sentiment, goes deeper than he who enacts statutes or pronounces decisions. He makes statutes and decisions possible or impossible to be executed.

Lincoln–Douglas debates (1858)

Now the relation of master and slave is pro tanto a total violation of this principle.

Speech at Peoria, Illinois (1854)

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies.

Thanksgiving Proclamation (1863)

This struggle is too large for you to be diverted from it by any small matter.

Speeches to Ohio Regiments (1864)

If you think you can, by slandering a woman make her love you, or by vilifying a man make him vote with you, go on and try it.

The nation is worth fighting for, to secure such an inestimable jewel.

Speeches to Ohio Regiments (1864)

I am glad to know that there is a system of labor where the laborer can strike if he wants to! I would to God that such a system prevailed all over the world.

I do not understand that because I do not want a negro woman for a slave I must necessarily want her for a wife. My understanding is that I can just let her alone.

Every blade of grass is a study; and to produce two, where there was but one, is both a profit and a pleasure.

Address before the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society (1859)

I cannot bring myself to believe that any human being lives who would do me any harm.

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

The Lyceum Address (1838)

Our government rests in public opinion. Whoever can change public opinion, can change the government, practically just so much.

I am a patient man — always willing to forgive on the Christian terms of repentance; and also to give ample time for repentance. Still I must save this government if possible.

I wish some of you would tell me the brand of whiskey that Grant drinks. I would like to send a barrel of it to my other generals.

The mystic chords of memory... will yet swell the chorus of the Union when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.

I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, 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.

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Abraham Lincoln (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.