" It is one of the foundational pillars of Abraham Lincoln—and of America itself. We’re not simply a country of ideas; we’re a country of ideals. What makes America exceptional is not our weapons or our might. It’s our principles and our continuing fight to live up to them. Faced with darkness, we must reach for the light. It was true a century and half ago at Gettysburg, but it’s just as true today: When you speak your mind—and speak for those who need help—there’s no more powerful way to be heard. "

― Brad Meltzer , The Lincoln Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill America's 16th President⁠—and Why It Failed