“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.”

“He who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it the second time.”

“but in Heaven we will have total peace We will be completely changed when we get to Heaven—and so, too, will those we couldn’t get along with while on earth. If God can make the lion and the lamb lie down together, we can trust Him to take care of our fractured relationships as we enter our heavenly home.”

“A theory is something nobody believes, except the person who made it. An experiment is something everybody believes, except the person who made it.”

“Without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope.”

“Grace is the power of God to help us in other areas in which we cannot help ourselves.” 

“Step number one to receiving answered prayer is decide what you want from God and find the scripture or scriptures that definitely promise you these things.”

“Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.  ”

“It seems as though mankind has forgotten the laws of its divine Saviour, Who preached love and forgiveness of injuries—and that men attribute the greatest merit to skill in killing one another.”

“You hit what you aim at, and if you aim at nothing you will hit it every time.”

'' A man who have not discovered something he will die for, is not fit to live.” 

“I hear and forget. I see and hear and I remember. However, when I see, hear and do, I understand and succeed.”

“It is not as important how we start (our past), but how we finish.”

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.”

“I have learned what must be, and therefore have come to see the whole horror of what is.”