Abraham Lincoln

Explore 66 quotes by Abraham Lincoln

With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed.

Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

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Topic

Public opinion Political theory Politics

Speaker

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Medium

Political debate

Language

English

Time

1858 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "First Debate with Stephen A. Douglas." 21 Aug. 1858, Ottawa, IL, USA.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "First Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Ottawa, Illinois, August 21, 1858." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1832-1858, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.

The intention of the lawgiver is the law.

Abraham Lincoln

First Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln

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Topic

Legal theory Law

Speaker

Abraham Lincoln

Source

First Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1861 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "First Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1861, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "First Inaugral Address, March 4, 1861." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 2018.

No man is good enough to govern another man, without that other's consent.

Abraham Lincoln

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Topic

Power Political theory Politics

Speaker

Abraham Lincoln

Source

The Repeal of the Missouri Compromise and the Property of its Restoration: Speech in Reply to Senator Douglas

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1854 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "The Repeal of the Missouri Compromise and the Property of its Restoration: Speech in Reply to Senator Douglas." 16 Oct. 1854, Peoria, IL, USA.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Speech at Peoria, Illinois, October 16, 1854." Lincoln Speeches, edited by Allen C. Guelzo and Richard Beeman. Penguin, 2012.

Public opinion in this country is everything.

Abraham Lincoln

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Read the full transcript of this speech at quod.lib.umich.edu

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Topic

Public opinion American politics

Speaker

Abraham Lincoln

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1859 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. Speech at Columbus, Ohio. 16 Sept. 1859, Columbus, OH, USA.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Speech at Columbus, Ohio, September 16, 1859." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.

Do good to those who hate you and turn their ill will to friendship.

Abraham Lincoln

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Topic

Friends and enemies Friends Enemies

Speaker

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Herndon's Informants

Statement Type

Advice

Language

English

Time

1865 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. Quoted by Mary Todd in Herndon's Informants. Interview with William H. Herndon. Sept. 1866.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. Quoted by Mary Todd in an interview with William H. Herndon, Sept. 1866. Herndon's Informants, edited by Douglas L. Wilson and Rodney O. Davis. University of Illinois Press, 1998.

There is no reason in the world why the negro is not entitled to all the natural rights enumerated in the Declaration of Independence, the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

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Topic

Declaration of Independence American Dream Equality Natural law

Speaker

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Medium

Political debate

Language

English

Time

1858 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "First Debate with Stephen A. Douglas." 21 Aug. 1858, Ottawa, IL, USA.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "First Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Ottawa, Illinois, August 21, 1858." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1832-1858, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.

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

Abraham Lincoln

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Read the full transcript of the Cooper Union Address at millercenter.org

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Topic

Conservatism

Speaker

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Address at Cooper Institute, New York City

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Statement Type

Question

Language

English

Time

1860 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Address at Cooper Institute, New York City." 27 Feb. 1860, New York City, NY, USA.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Address at Cooper Institute, New York City, February 27, 1860." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.

If all do not join now to save the good old ship of the Union on this voyage, nobody will have a chance to pilot her on another voyage.

Abraham Lincoln

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Read the full transcript of this speech at digital.lib.niu.edu

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Topic

American Civil War American experiment

Speaker

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Speech in Cleveland, Ohio.

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1861 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Speech in Cleveland, Ohio." 15 Feb. 1861, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Speech at Cleveland, Ohio, February 15, 1861." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.

A majority held in restraint by constitutional checks and limitations, and always changing easily with deliberate changes of popular opinions and sentiments, is the only true sovereign of a free people. Whoever rejects it does, of necessity, fly to anarchy or to despotism.

Abraham Lincoln

First Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln

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Topic

Majority rule Checks and balances Minority rights Political theory

Speaker

Abraham Lincoln

Source

First Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1861 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "First Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1861, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "First Inaugral Address, March 4, 1861." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 2018.

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

Abraham Lincoln

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Topic

Just cause Perseverance Fear of failure American Civil War

Speaker

Abraham Lincoln

Source

The Sub-Treasury: Speech at a Political Discussion

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1839 1830s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "The Sub-Treasury: Speech at a Political Discussion." 26 Dec. 1839, Hall of the House of Representatives, Springfield, IL, USA.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Speech on the Sub-Treasury at Springfield, Illinois, December 26, 1839." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1832-1858, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.

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.

Abraham Lincoln

First Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln

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Topic

Decline of democracy Government Political theory Politics

Speaker

Abraham Lincoln

Source

First Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1861 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "First Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1861, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "First Inaugral Address, March 4, 1861." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 2018.

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.

Abraham Lincoln

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Read the full transcript of this speech at presidency.ucsb.edu

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Topic

Rule of law in wartime

Author

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Speeches of Abraham Lincoln

Language

English

Time

1864 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. Response to a serenade. 10 Nov. 1864, Washington, DC, USA.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Response to a serenade, November 10, 1864." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings: 1859-1865. Library of America, 1989.

Nowhere in the world is presented a government of so much liberty and equality. To the humblest and poorest amongst us are held out the highest privileges and positions. The present moment finds me at the White House, yet there is as good a chance for your children as there was for my father's.

Abraham Lincoln

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Topic

Land of opportunity American Dream Social mobility

Speaker

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Speech to the 148th Ohio Regiment

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1864 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Speech to the 148th Ohio Regiment." 31 Aug. 1864, Washington, DC, USA.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Speech to 148th Ohio Regiment, Washington, D.C, August 31, 1864." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.

We were proclaiming ourselves political hypocrites before the world, by thus fostering Human Slavery and proclaiming ourselves, at the same time, the sole friends of Human Freedom.

Abraham Lincoln

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Topic

Slavery Freedom Hypocrisy American politics

Speaker

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Speeches of Abraham Lincoln

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1854 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. Speech at Springfield, IL. 4 Oct. 1854, Springfield, IL, USA.

It is very strange that I, a boy brought up in the woods, and seeing, as it were, but little of the world, should be drifted into the very apex of this great event.

Abraham Lincoln

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Topic

American Civil War Fate

Speaker

Abraham Lincoln

Source

The Daily Dispatch

Medium

Interview Newspaper

Language

English

Time

1864 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Interview of a Canadian Editor with the President." The Daily Dispatch (Richmond), 5 Sept. 1864.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. Quoted in "The People with the Governing Power," Conversations with Lincoln by Charles M. Segal. G. P. Putman's Sons, 1961.

Allow the President to invade a neighboring nation whenever he shall deem it necessary to repel an invasion, and you allow him to do so whenever he may choose to say he deems it necessary for such purpose—and you allow him to make war at pleasure.

Abraham Lincoln

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Topic

Preemptive war Executive power War

Author

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Letters of Abraham Lincoln

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1848 1840s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. Letter to William H. Herndon. 15 Feb. 1848.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "To William H. Herndon, Febrary 15, 1848." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1832-1858, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.

I went into the neighborhood in that State in which I was raised, where my mother and only sister were buried, and from which I had been absent about fifteen years. That part of the country is, within itself, as unpoetical as any spot of the earth; but still, seeing it and its objects and inhabitants aroused feelings in me which were certainly poetry; though whether my expression of those feelings is poetry is quite another question.

Abraham Lincoln

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Topic

Kentucky Homecoming Home American states

Author

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Letters of Abraham Lincoln

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1846 1840s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. Letter to Andrew Johnston. 18 Apr. 1846.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "To Andrew Johnston, April 18, 1846." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1832-1858, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.

I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do hereby appoint and set apart the last Thursday in November next as a day which I desire to be observed by all my fellow citizens wherever they may then be as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to Almighty God the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe. And I do farther recommend to my fellow citizens aforesaid that on that occasion they do reverently humble themselves in the dust and from thence offer up penitent and fervent prayers and supplications to the Great Disposer of events for a turn of the inestimable blessings of Peace, Union and Harmony throughout the land, which it has pleased him to assign as a dwelling place for ourselves and for our posterity throughout all generations.

Abraham Lincoln

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Topic

Thanksgiving Holidays

Speaker

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Proclamation of Thanksgiving

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1864 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Proclamation of Thanksgiving." 20 Oct. 1864.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Proclamation of Thanksgiving, October 20, 1864." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.

My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destory 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.

Abraham Lincoln

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Topic

American Civil War

Author

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Letters of Abraham Lincoln

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1862 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. Letter to Horace Greeley. 22 Aug. 1862.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "To Horace Greeley, August 22 1862." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.

This government was instituted to secure the blessings of freedom, and…slavery is an unqualified evil to the negro, to the white man, to the soil, and to the State.

Abraham Lincoln

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Topic

Purpose of government Government Slavery Freedom American politics

Speaker

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Speeches of Abraham Lincoln

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1858 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. Speech in Illinois. 11 Sept. 1858, Edwardsville, IL, USA.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "From Portion of Speech at Edwardsville, Illinois, September 11, 1858." Lincoln's Selected Writings, edited by David S. Reynolds. W. W. Norton & Company, 2016.