Politics Quotes

Just think of such a sucker as me as President!

The cause of civil liberty must not be surrendered at the end of one, or even one hundred, defeats.

Though I now sink out of view, and shall be forgotten, I believe I have made some marks which will tell for the cause of civil liberty long after I am gone.

I am glad I made the late race. It gave me a hearing on the great and durable question of the age, which I could have had in no other way.

Stand by your principles; stand by your guns; and victory complete and permanent is sure at the last.

No party can command respect which sustains this year, what it opposed last.

I have enlisted for the permanent success of the Republican cause; and, for this object, I shall labor faithfully in the ranks, unless, as I think not probable, the judgment of the party shall assign me a different position.

What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried?

Public opinion is founded, to a great extent, on a property basis. What lessens the value of property is opposed, what enhances its value is favored.

I could not raise ten thousand dollars if it would save me from the fate of John Brown. Nor have my friends, so far as I know, yet reached the point of staking any money on my chances of success.

I wish no explanation made to our enemies. What they want is a squabble and a fuss; and that they can have if we explain; and they can not have if we don't.

In all our rejoicing let us neither express, nor cherish, any harsh feeling towards any citizen who, by his vote, has differed with us. Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in the bonds of fraternal feeling.

These political fiends are not half sick enough yet. `Party malice' and not `public good' possesses them entirely.

I am sorry any republican inclines to dally with Pop. Sov. [popular sovereignty] of any sort. It acknowledges that slavery has equal rights with liberty, and surrenders all we have contended for.

What is our present condition? We have just carried an election on principles fairly stated to the people. Now we are told in advance, the government shall be broken up, unless we surrender to those we have beaten, before we take the offices.

I do not deny the possibility that the people may err in an election; but if they do, the true cure is in the next election.

Without a name, perhaps without a reason why I should have a name, there has fallen upon me a task such as did not rest even upon the Father of his country.

I have been occupying a position, since the Presidential election, of silence, of avoiding public speaking, of avoiding public writing. I have been doing so because I thought, upon full consideration, that was the proper course for me to take.

I have never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence.

If this country cannot be saved without giving up that principle - I was about to say I would rather be assassinated on this spot than to surrender it.