Abraham Lincoln Quotes

Standing beneath this serene sky, overlooking these broad fields now reposing from the labors of the waning year, the mighty Alleghenies dimly towering before us, the graves of our brethren beneath our feet, it is with hesitation that I raise my poor voice to break the eloquent silence of God and Nature. But the duty to which you have called me must be performed; -- grant me, I pray you, your indulgence and your sympathy.

But they, I am sure, will join us in saying, as we bid farewell to the dust of these martyr-heroes, that wheresoever throughout the civilized world the accounts of this great warfare are read, and down to the latest period of recorded time, in the glorious annals of our common country, there will be no brighter page than that which relates the Battles of Gettysburg.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

We can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.

Hold on with a bulldog grip, and chew and choke as much as possible.

We cannot escape history ... we will be remembered in spite of ourselves ... the fiery trial through which we pass will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation.

The better part of one's life consists of his friendships.

Truth is generally the best vindication against slander.

I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.

All through life, be sure and put your feet in the right place, and then stand firm.

No matter how much cats fight, there always seems to be plenty of kittens.

Common looking people are the best in the world: that is the reason the Lord makes so many of them.

I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end.

I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day.

It’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.

Let no feeling of discouragement prey upon you, and in the end you are sure to succeed.

My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of earth.

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

The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend.

The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly.

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.

With malice towards none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right.

A lawyer's time and advice are his stock in trade.

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.

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

Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. As a peacemaker the lawyer has superior opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough.

It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you really want to test his character, give him power.

People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be.

The leading rule for the lawyer, as for the man of every other calling, is diligence. Leave nothing for to-morrow which can be done to-day.

This too shall pass…