I have understood well that the duty of self-preservation rests solely with the American people — Abraham Lincoln in a letter to the workingmen of England

Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as a heritage of all men in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors — Abraham Lincoln

I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong — Abraham Lincoln

Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm — Abraham Lincoln

A friend is one who has the same enemies as you have — Abraham Lincoln

My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right — Abraham Lincoln

Labor is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit of the labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration — Abraham Lincoln

Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing — Abraham Lincoln

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt — Abraham Lincoln

This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or exercise their revolutionary right to overthrow it — Abraham Lincoln