The Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln QUOTES

1 " [January] 26th. [1863] ...and now beware of rashness. Beware of rashness, but with energy and sleepless vigilance go forward and give us victories. "

― Abraham Lincoln , The Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln

2 " (To Governor Curtin, talking about the campaign of Fredericksburg) This reminds me of an old farmer I used to know out in Illinois. He took it into his head to go into hog-raising.. He sent out to Europe and imported the finest breed of hogs he could buy. The prize hog was put into a pen and the farmer's two mischievous boys, James and John, were told to be sure not to let it out. But James, the worst of the two, let the brute out the next day. The hog went straight for the boys, and drove John up a tree, then the hog went for the boys, and drove John up a tree, then the hog went for the seat of James' trousers, and the only way the boy could save himself was by holding on to the hog's tail. The hog would not give up his hunt, nor the boy his hold. After they had made a good many circles around the tree, the boy's courage began to give out and he shouted to his brother: "I say, John, come down quick and help me let go this hog."
Now, Governor, that is exactly my case. I wish some one would come and help me let the hog go. "

― Abraham Lincoln , The Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln

3 " [August] 17th. [1859] At Cincinnati.
This is the first time in my life that I have appeared before an audience in so great a city as this. I therefore--though I am no longer a young man-- make this appearance under some degree of embarrassment. But I have found that when one is embarrassed, usually the shortest way to get through with it is to quit talking or thinking about it, and go at something else. "

― Abraham Lincoln , The Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln

4 " [November] 24th. [1862] (To General Carl Shurz) I have just received and read your letter of the 20th. The purport of it is that we lost the late elections and the Administration is failing because the war is unsuccessful, and that I must not flatter myself that I am not justly to blame for it. I certainly know that if the war fails, the administration fails, and that I will be blamed for it, whether I deserve it or not and I ought to be blamed if I could do better. You think I could do better; therefore you blame me already. I think I could not do better; therefore I blame you for blaming me. I understand you now to be willing to accept the help of men who are not Republicans, provided they have "heart in it." Agreed. I want no others. But who is to be judge of hearts, or of "heart in it?" If I must discard my own judgment and take yours, I must also take that of others; and by the time I should reject all I should be advised to reject, I should have none left, Republicans or others --not even yourself. For be assured, my dear sir, there are men who have "heart in it" that think you are performing your part as poorly as you think I am performing mine. "

― Abraham Lincoln , The Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln

5 " [September] 27th [1862] I happened to be placed, being a humble instrument in the hands of our Heavenly Father, as I am, and as we all are, to work out His great purposes, I have desired that all my works and acts may be according to His will, and that it might be so, I have sought His aid; but if, after endeavoring to do my best in the light which He affords me, I find my efforts fail, I must believe that for some purpose unknown to me, He wills it otherwise. "

― Abraham Lincoln , The Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln

6 " [September] 27th [1862] If I had had my way, this war would never have been commenced. "

― Abraham Lincoln , The Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln

7 " We must remember that the people of all the States are entitled to all the privileges and immunities of the citizens of the several States. We should bear this in mind, and act in such a way as to say nothing insulting or irritating. I would inculcate this idea, so that we may not, like the Pharisees set ourselves up to be better than other people. "

― Abraham Lincoln , The Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln

8 " I do not wish you to believe that I assume to be any better than others who have gone before me. "

― Abraham Lincoln , The Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln

9 " Why should there be a patient confidence in the ultimate justice of the people? Is there any better or equal hope in the world? In our present differences is either party without faith of being in the right? If the Almighty Ruler of Nations, with his eternal truth and justice, be on on your side of the North, or on yours of the South, that truth and that justice will surely prevail by the judgement of this great tribunal of the American people. "

― Abraham Lincoln , The Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln

10 " I have no speech to make to you, and no time to speak in. I appear before you that I may see you, and that you may see me; and I am willing to admit that so far as the ladies are concerned, I have the best of the bargain, though I wish it to be understood that I do not make the same acknowledgement concerning the men. "

― Abraham Lincoln , The Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln

11 " I see you have erected a very fine and handsome platform here for me, and I presume you expected me to speak from it. If I should go upon it, you would imagine that I was about to deliver you a much longer speech than I am. I wish you to understand that I mean no discourtesy to you by thus declining. I discourtesy to no one. But I wish you to understand that though I am unwilling to go upon this platform, you are not at liberty to draw any inferences concerning any other platform with which my name has been or is connected. I wish you long life and prosperity individually, and pray that with the perpetuity of those institutions under which we have all so long lived and prospered, our happiness may be secured, our future made brilliant, and the glorious destiny of our country established forever. "

― Abraham Lincoln , The Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln

12 " I rejoice with you in the success, which has thus far attended the cause. Yet in all our rejoicings, let us neither express nor cherish any hard feelings toward 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. "

― Abraham Lincoln , The Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln

13 " October 19th. (To Miss Grace Bedell) Your very agreeable letter of the 15th is received. I regret the necessity to of saying I have no daughter. I have three sons--one seventeen, one nine, and one seven. They with their mother constitute my whole family. As to the whiskers, having never worn any, do you not think people would call it a piece of silly affection if I were to begin now? "

― Abraham Lincoln , The Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln

14 " [January] 2nd. [1863] When an individual in a church or out of it becomes dangerous to the public interest, he must be checked; but let the churches, as such, take care of themselves. "

― Abraham Lincoln , The Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln

15 " He who does something at the head of one Regiment, will eclipse him who does nothing at the head of a hundred. "

― Abraham Lincoln , The Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln

16 " September 22nd. [1860] (To Mrs. M. J. Green) Your kind congratulatory letter of August was received in due course, and should have been answered sooner. The truth is I have never corresponded much with ladies; and hence I postpone writing letters to them, as a business which I do not understand. I can only say now I thank you for the good opinion you express of me, fearing, at the same time, I may not be able to maintain it through life. "

― Abraham Lincoln , The Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln

17 " Now I can ride. I have a pumpkin in each end of my sack. "

― Abraham Lincoln , The Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln

18 " [December] 20th. [1862] Now I can ride. I have a pumpkin in each end of my sack. "

― Abraham Lincoln , The Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln

19 " ...if we never try, we shall never succeed. "

― Abraham Lincoln , The Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln

20 " [October} 13th [1862] (To McClellan) ...if we never try, we shall never succeed. "

― Abraham Lincoln , The Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln