Category: Quote of the Day

That is good book-law; but it not the rule of actual practice.”– Speech at Peoria, October 16, 1854

The ant who has toiled and dragged a crumb to his nest will furiously defend the fruit of his labor against whatever robber assails him. So plain that the most dumb and stupid slave that ever toiled for a master does constantly known that he is wronged.”– Fragment on Slavery, circa July 1, 1854

The Autocrat of all the Russias will resign his crown, and proclaim his subjects free republicans sooner than will our American masters voluntarily give up their slaves.”– Letter to George Robertson, August 15, 1855

The better part of one’s life consists in his friendships”– Letter to Joseph Gillespie, May 19, 1849

The dogmas of the quiet past, are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise — with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country.”– Message to Congress, December… Continue reading Quote of the Day 18j

The fight must go on. The cause of civil liberty must not be surrendered at the end of one or even one hundred defeats.”– Letter to H. Asbury, November 19, 1858

The man does not live who is more devoted to peace than I am. None who would do more to preserve it.”– Address to the New Jersey General Assembly, February 21, 1861

The inclination to exchange thoughts with one another is probably an original impulse of our nature.”– Second Lecture on Discoveries and Inventions, February 11, 1859

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.”– Inaugural Address, March 4, 1861

The people – the people – are the rightful masters of both congresses and courts – not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it.”– Speech in Kansas, December 1859