“The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who'll get me a book I ain't read.”

“Laughter can be used to sooth the mind and get rid of those awful thoughts.”

“When you have got an elephant by the hind legs and he is trying to run away. it's best to let him run"

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

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”

“I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being.”

“Force is all conquering, but it's victories are short lived.”

“you can't escape tomorrow's responsibilities by evading it today”

“As our case is new, we must think and act anew.”

“My father taught me to work; he did not teach me to love it.”

“Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.”

“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.”

“Teach the children so it won't be necessary to teach the adults.”

“Let me not be understood as saying that there are no bad laws, nor that grievances may not arise for the redress of which no legal provisions have been made. I mean to say no such thing. But I do mean to say that although bad laws, if they exist, should be repealed as soon as possible, still, while they continue in force, for the sake of example they should be religiously observed.”

“I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.”