The Lincoln Year Book: Axioms and Aphorisms from the Great Emancipator

MAY

Two principles have stood face to face from the beginning of time and will ever continue to struggle. The one is the common right of humanity; the other is the divine right of kings.

FIRST

Revolutionize through the ballot box.

SECOND

Repeal all past history, – you still can not repeal human nature.

THIRD

Capital has its rights, which are as worthy of protection as other rights.

FOURTH

Teach men that what they can not take by an election, neither can they take by war.

FIFTH

I authorize no bargains, and will be bound by none.

SIXTH

When a man is sincerely penitent for his misdeeds, and gives satisfactory evidence of the same, he can safely be pardoned.

SEVENTH

If destruction be our lot, it must spring up among ourselves.

EIGHTH

In a democracy, where the majority rule by the ballot through the forms of law, physical rebellions are radically wrong, unconstitutional, and are treason.

NINTH

Let us be friends, and treat each other like friends.

TENTH

If I was less thin-skinned I should get along much better.

ELEVENTH

We will talk over the merits of the case.

TWELFTH

Nothing shall be wanting on my part, if sustained by the American people and God.

THIRTEENTH

Are you not over-cautious?

FOURTEENTH

The severest justice may not always be the best policy.

FIFTEENTH

The rule of a minority, as a permanent arrangement, is wholly inadmissible.

SIXTEENTH

One poor man, colored though he be, with God on his side, is stronger against us than the hosts of the Rebellion.

SEVENTEENTH

Never fear, victory will come.

EIGHTEENTH

The Lord has not deserted me thus far, and He is not going to now.

NINETEENTH

I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.

TWENTIETH

Are you strong enough?

TWENTY-FIRST

If I do not go away from here a wiser man, I shall go away a better man.

TWENTY-SECOND

I know that liberty is right.

TWENTY-THIRD

You must not give me the praise – it belongs to God.

TWENTY-FOURTH

It has always been a sentiment with me that all mankind should be free.

TWENTY-FIFTH

I don't pretend to be bright.

TWENTY-SIXTH

It is only by the active development of events that character and ability can be tested.

TWENTY-SEVENTH

I remember a good story when I hear it, but I never invented anything original: I am only a retail dealer.

TWENTY-EIGHTH

Few men are tried, or so many would not fit their places so badly.

TWENTY-NINTH

Preach God and liberty to the "bulls" and "bears."

THIRTIETH

The Union is older than any of the States.

THIRTY-FIRST

I only beg that you will not ask impossibilities of me.

JUNE

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 the cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion, – that we here highly resolve that the dead shall not have died in vain.

FIRST

Let the people know the truth, and the country is safe.

SECOND

Men moving in an official circle are apt to become merely official – not to say arbitrary.

THIRD

Negroes, like other people, act upon motives. Why should they do anything for us if we will do nothing for them?

FOURTH

The Lord is always on the side of the right.

FIFTH

If I go down, I intend to go down like the "Cumberland," with my colors flying.

SIXTH

Killing the dog does not cure the bite.

SEVENTH

I am nothing, but truth is everything.

EIGHTH

Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed.

NINTH

Whatever shall appear to be God's will, I will do.

TENTH

Only those generals who gain success can be dictators.

ELEVENTH

Can aliens make treaties easier than friends can make laws?

TWELFTH

The Patagonians open oysters and throw the shells out of the window – until the pile gets higher than the house; then they move.

THIRTEENTH

The question of time can not and must not be ignored.

FOURTEENTH

We must be more cheerful in the future.

FIFTEENTH

Come what will, I will keep my faith with friend and foe.

SIXTEENTH

Keep in your own sphere, and there will be no difficulty.

SEVENTEENTH

If we could first know where we are and whither we are tending, we could better judge what to do and how to do it.

EIGHTEENTH

I am never easy, when I am handling a thought, until I have bounded it north, south, east, and west.

NINETEENTH

Others have been made fools of by the girls, but this can never be said of me; I made a fool of myself.

TWENTIETH

It is not best to swap horses while crossing a stream.

TWENTY-FIRST

I can only trust in God that I have made no mistake.

TWENTY-SECOND

It has been said of the world's history hitherto that "might makes right"; it is for us and for our times to reverse the maxim, and to show that right makes might.

TWENTY-THIRD

I shall stay right here and do my duty.

TWENTY-FOURTH

If we have no friends, we have no pleasure.

TWENTY-FIFTH

I am older in years than I am in the tricks and trades of politicians.

TWENTY-SIXTH

Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up and shake off the existing government and form a new one that suits them better.

TWENTY-SEVENTH

Our enemies want a squabble; and that they can have if we explain; and they can not have it if we don't.

TWENTY-EIGHTH

If it must be that I go down, let me go down linked to truth.

TWENTY-NINTH

I am very little inclined on any occasion to say anything unless I hope to produce some good by it.

THIRTIETH

Let us forget errors.