If they do kill me, I shall never die another death.
I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel were felt by the whole human race, there would not be one cheerful face left on earth.
Our government rests in public opinion. Whoever can change public opinion, can change the government, practically just so much.
I intend no modification of my oft-expressed wish that all men everywhere could be free.
We cannot escape history.
I couldn’t be two faced. If I had two faces, I wouldn’t wear this one.
When the conduct of men is designed to be influenced, persuasion, kind, unassuming persuasion, should ever be adopted. It is an old and a true maxim, that ‘a drop of honey catches more flies than a gallon of gall.’
My old father used to have a saying: If you make a bad bargain, hug it all the tighter.
You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all, and it comes with bitter agony. Perfect relief is not possible, except with the passing of time.
I believe it is an established maxim in morals that he who makes an assertion without knowing whether it is true or false, is guilty of falsehood; and the accidental truth of the assertion, does not justify or excuse him.
I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause. I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views.
I shall adopt new views as fast as they shall appear to be true views.
Upon the subject of education, not presuming to dictate any plan or system respecting it, I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people may be engaged in. That everyone may receive at least a moderate education appears to be an objective of vital importance.
If elected I shall be thankful; if not, it will be all the same.
The Cause of civil liberty must not be surrendered at the end of one, or even one hundred defeats.
Seriously, I do not think I fit for the presidency.
The human mind is impelled to action, or held in rest by some power, over which the mind itself has no control.
I walk slowly, but never backwards.
That everyone may receive at least a moderate education appears to be an objective of vital importance.