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Lincoln on Principled Decision Making

“…as you have made up your organization upon principle, stand by it; for as surely as God reigns over you and has inspired your mind, and given you a sense of propriety, and continues to give you hope, so surely will you still cling to these ideas, and you will at last come back again after your wanderings, merely to do your work over again.”

Speech at Chicago, July 10 , 1858

“Important principles may and must be flexible.”

Last public address, Washington, D.C., April 11, 1965

 

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Lincoln on Private Property

“Property is the fruit of labor; property is desirable; it is positive good in the world.”

Remarks, Washington, D.C., March 21, 1864

“I take it that it is best for all to leave each man free to acquire property as fast as he can. We do wish to allow the humblest man an equal chance to get rich with everybody else!”

Speech at New Haven, March 6, 1860

 

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Lincoln on Public Opinion and Polls

“Public opinion in this country is everything.”

Speech at Columbus, September 16, 1859

“Our government rests in public opinion. Whoever can change public opinion can change the government practically just so much. Public opinion, on any subject, always has a “central idea,” from which all its minor thoughts radiate.”

Speech at Chicago, December 10, 1856

“With public sentiment nothing can fail; without nothing can succeed.”

Speech at Ottawa, August 21, 1858

 

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Lincoln on the Purpose of Government

“This is essentially a People’s contest… It is a struggle for maintaining in the world, that form and substance of government, whose leading object is to elevate the condition of men – to lift artificial weights from all shoulders – to clear the paths of laudable pursuits for all – to afford all an unfettered start and a fair chance in the race of life.”

Message to Congress, July 4, 1861

“It is not merely for today, but for all time to come that we should perpetuate for our children’s children this great and free government, which we have enjoyed all our lives.”

Speech at Washington, D.C., August 22, 1864

 

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Lincoln on Race Relations and Tensions

LINCOLN ON RACE RELATIONS AND TENSIONS

“There will be some black men who can remember that with silent tongue, and clenched teeth, and steady eye, and well poised bayonet, they have helped mankind on to this great consummation, while I fear there will be some white ones unable to forget that with malignant heart and deceitful speech they strove to hinder it.”

Letter to James Conkling, August 26, 1863

 

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Lincoln on Reading Bills Before Voting

“A capacity and taste for reading gives access to whatever has been discovered by others. It is the key, or one of the keys, to the already solved problems. And not only so; it gives a relish and a facility for successfully pursuing the unsolved ones.”

Speech at Milwaukee, September 30, 1859

 

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Lincoln on the Republic of States

“The republican system of government has proved its adaptation to what is the first purpose of government everywhere – the maintenance of national independence (and) the preservation of peace, order and national prosperity.”

Letter to D. M. Hurtado, June 4, 1861

“Each community, as a State, has a right to do exactly as it pleases with all the concerns within that state that interfere with the right of no other State; and that the general government, upon principle, has no right to interfere with anything other than that general class of things that does not concern the  whole.”

Speech at Chicago, July 10, 1858

 

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Lincoln on the Republican Party

“All you have to do is to keep the faith, to remain steadfast to the right, to stand by your banner. Nothing should lead you to leave your guns. Stand together, ready, with match in hand. Allow nothing to turn you to the right or the left. Remember how long you have been in setting out on the true course; how long you have been in getting your neighbors to understand and believe as you now do. Stand by your principles; stand by your guns, and victory, complete and permanent, is sure at last.”

Speech at Chicago, March 1, 1859

“The chief and real purpose of the Republican Party is conservative. It proposes nothing save and except to restore this government to its original tone…”

Speech at Columbus, September 16, 1859

 

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Lincoln on the Right to Rise

“Most governments have been based, practically, on the denial of the equal rights of men. Ours began by affirming those rights. The said “some men are too ignorant and vicious to share in government.” “Possibly so,” said we, “and by our system you would always keep them ignorant and vicious. We propose to give all a chance; and we expect the weak to grow stronger, the ignorant wiser and all better and happier together.”

Notes, July 1, 1854

 

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