“If I am killed, I can die but once; but to live in constant dread of it, is to die over and over again.”

“The hen is the wisest of all the animal creation, because she never cackles until the egg is laid.”

“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.”

“I am growing old enough not to care much for the MANNER of doing things.”

“I belive that people should fight for what they believe and only what they believe.”

“To believe in the things you can see and touch is no belief at all - but to believe in the unseen is a triumph and a blessing.”

“I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how a man could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.”

“Military glory--that attractive rainbow, that rises in showers of blood--that serpent's eye, that charms to destroy...”

“The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.”

“I'm a slow walker, but I never walk back.”

“When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on”

“In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.”

“That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well.”

“I am naturally anti-slavery. If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong.”

“If we take habitual drunkards as a class, their heads and hearts will bear an advantageous comparison with those of any other class.”