“Be with a leader when he is right, stay with him when he is still right, but, leave him when he is wrong.”

“Lets have faith that right makes might; and in that faith let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.”

“Too big to cry too young to laugh...”

“I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.”

“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.”

“God must have loved the plain people; He made so many of them.”

“There's no honorable way to kill, no gentle way to destroy. There is nothing good in war. Except its ending.”

“RESPONSE TO POLITICAL SMEAR TO ROBERT ALLEN New Salem, June 21, 1836 DEAR COLONEL:—I am told that during my absence last week you passed through this place, and stated publicly that you were in possession of a fact or facts which, if known to the public, would entirely destroy the prospects of N. W. Edwards and myself at the ensuing election; but that, through favor to us, you should forbear to divulge them. No one has needed favors more than I, and, generally, few have been less unwilling to accept them; but in this case favor to me would be injustice to the public, and therefore I must beg your pardon for declining it. That I once had the confidence of the people of Sangamon, is sufficiently evident; and if I have since done anything, either by design or misadventure, which if known would subject me to a forfeiture of that confidence, he that knows of that thing, and conceals it, is a traitor to his country’s interest. I find myself wholly unable to form any conjecture of what fact or facts, real or supposed, you spoke; but my opinion of your veracity will not permit me for a moment to doubt that you at least believed what you said. I am flattered with the personal regard you manifested for me; but I do hope that, on more mature reflection, you will view the public interest as a paramount consideration, and therefore determine to let the worst come. I here assure you that the candid statement of facts on your part, however low it may sink me, shall never break the tie of personal friendship between us. I wish an answer to this, and you are at liberty to publish both, if you choose. Very respectfully, A. LINCOLN.”

“You have to do your own growing no matter how tall your grandfather was.”

“Nothing in this world is impossible to a willing heart.”

“Every man's happiness is his own responsibility.”

“You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry”

“Upon the subject of education ... I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people may be engaged in.”

“Women are the only people I am afraid of who I never thought would hurt me”

“A farce or comedy is best played; a tragedy is best read at home.”