"In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free - honorable alike in that we give and what we preserve. We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of earth."
"Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally."
"Take all that you can of this book upon reason, and the balance on faith, and you will live and die a happier man. (When a skeptic expressed surprise to see him reading a Bible)"
"Republicans are for both the man and the dollar, but in case of conflict the man before the dollar."
"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 can be engaged in."
"Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?"