"Without slavery the rebellion could never have existed; without slavery it could not continue."
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Quote collection
Abraham Lincoln quotes (page 37 of 58)
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"The world has never had a good definition of the word liberty, and the American people, just now, are much in want of one. We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing."
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"Gen. Schurz thinks I was a little cross in my late note to you. If I was, I ask pardon. If I do get up a little temper I have no sufficient time to keep it up."
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"Few can be induced to labor exclusively for posterity; and none will do it enthusiastically. Posterity has done nothing for us; and theorize on it as we may, practically we shall do very little for it, unless we are made to think we are at the same time doing something for ourselves."
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"Our government rests in public opinion. Whoever can change public opinion, can change the government, practically just so much."
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"If they do kill me, I shall never die another death."
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"I believe the declaration that ‘all men are created equal’ is the great fundamental principle upon which our free institutions rest."
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"No one has needed favours more than I, and generally, few have been less unwilling to accept them; but in this case, favour to me,would be injustice to the public, and therefore I must beg your pardon for declining it."
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"Great distance in either time or space has wonderful power to lull and render quiescent the human mind."
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"The principles of Jefferson are the definitions and axioms of free society."
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"God can not be for, and against the same thing at the same time."
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"One section of our country believes slavery is right, and ought to be extended, while the other believes it is wrong, and ought not to be extended."
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"But let the past as nothing be. For the future my view is that the fight must go on."
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"Fellow countrymen: At this second appearing to take the oath of the Presidential office, there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first...The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself; and it is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured."
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"An allusion has been made to the Homestead Law. I think it worthy of consideration, and that the wild lands of the country should be distributed so that every man should have the means and opportunity of benefitting his condition."
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"Few can be induced to labor exclusively for posterity - Posterity has done nothing for us"
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"I am struggling to maintain the government, not to overthrow it. I am struggling especially to prevent others from overthrowing it."
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"May the Almighty grant that the cause of truth, justice, and humanity, shall in no wise suffer at my hands."
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"We must settle this question now -- whether in a free government the minority have the right to break it up whenever they choose. If we fail, it will go far to prove the incapability of the people to govern themselves."
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"I think that if anything can be proved by natural theology, it is that slavery is morally wrong. God gave man a mouth to receive bread, hands to feed it, and his hand has a right to carry bread to his mouth without controversy."
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