ABRAHAM LINCOLN QUOTES IV

U.S. President (1809-1865)

Abraham Lincoln quote

The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves -- in their separate, and individual capacities. In all that the people can individually do as well for themselves, government ought not to interfere.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

fragment of a speech from July 1, 1854, Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln

Tags: government


Free labor has the inspiration of hope; pure slavery has no hope. The power of hope upon human exertion, and happiness, is wonderful. The slave-master himself has a conception of it; and hence the system of tasks among slaves. The slave whom you can not drive with the lash to break seventy-five pounds of hemp in a day, if you will task him to break a hundred, and promise him pay for all he does over, he will break you a hundred and fifty. You have substituted hope, for the rod. And yet perhaps it does not occur to you, that to the extent of your gain in the case, you have given up the slave system, and adopted the free system of labor.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

fragmentary manuscript of a speech on free labor, September 17, 1859?

Tags: hope


If A. can prove, however conclusively, that he may, of right, enslave B. Why may not B. snatch the same argument, and prove equally, that he may enslave A? You say A. is white, and B. is black. It is color, then; the lighter, having the right to enslave the darker? Take care. By this rule, you are to be slave to the first man you meet, with a fairer skin than your own. You do not mean color exactly? You mean the whites are intellectually the superiors of the blacks, and, therefore have the right to enslave them? Take care again. By this rule, you are to be slave to the first man you meet, with an intellect superior to your own. But, say you, it is a question of interest; and, if you can make it your interest, you have the right to enslave another. Very well. And if he can make it his interest, he has the right to enslave you.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

fragment of a speech from 1854, Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln

Tags: slavery


These capitalists generally act harmoniously and in concert to fleece the people, and now that they have got into a quarrel with themselves, we are called upon to appropriate the people's money to settle the quarrel.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

speech to Illinois legislature, Sangamo Journal, January 28, 1837

Tags: capitalism


In law it is a good policy never to plead what you need not, lest you oblige yourself to prove what you cannot.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

letter to Usher F. Linder, February 20, 1848


All I ask for the negro is that if you do not like him, let him alone. If God gave him but little, that little let him enjoy.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

speech, July 17, 1858


Great distance in either time or space has wonderful power to lull and render quiescent the human mind.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

speech, February 22, 1842


If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could better judge what to do, and how to do it.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

speech, June 16, 1858


Any people anywhere being inclined and having the power have the right to rise up and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

speech in the United States House of Representatives, January 12, 1848

Tags: revolution


I believe I shall never be old enough to speak without embarrassment when I have nothing to talk about.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

response to a serenade, December 6, 1864


It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

attributed, The Wit & Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln

Tags: vice


Military glory -- that attractive rainbow that rises in showers of blood.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

speech in opposition to the Mexican-American War, January 12, 1848

Tags: war


It follows as a matter of course that a half-hour answer to a speech of an hour and a half can be but a very hurried one.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

debate with Stephen Douglas, September 18, 1858


Truth is generally the best vindication against slander.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

letter to Edwin Stanton, July 14, 1864

Tags: slander


If a man will stand up and assert, and repeat and reassert, that two and two do not make four, I know nothing in the power of argument that can stop him.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

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


In this sad world of ours sorrow comes to all, and to the young it comes with bittered agony because it takes them unawares. The older have learned to expect it.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

letter to Fanny McCullough, December 23, 1862

Tags: sorrow


On my return from Philadelphia, yesterday, where, in my anxiety I had been led to attend the whig convention, I found your last letter. I was so tired and sleepy, having ridden all night, that I could not answer it till today; and now I have to do so in the H. R. The leading matter in your letter, is your wish to return to the side of the mountains. Will you be a good girl in all things, if I consent? Then come along, and that as soon as possible. Having got the idea in my head, I shall be impatient till I see you.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

letter to his wife, June 12, 1848


The negative principle that no law is free law, is not much known except among lawyers.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

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


The way for a young man to rise is to improve himself every way he can, never suspecting that anybody wishes to hinder him.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

letter to William H. Herndon, July 10, 1848


Without the assistance of that Divine Being ... I cannot succeed. With that assistance, I cannot fail.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

speech, February 11, 1861

Tags: God