Abraham Lincoln

Slavery is founded in the selfishness of man's nature — opposition to it, in his love of justice.

I insist, that if there is ANY THING which it is the duty of the WHOLE PEOPLE to never entrust to any hands but their own, that thing is the preservation and perpetuity, of their own liberties, and institutions.

The master not only governs the slave without his consent, but he governs him by a set of rules altogether different from those which he prescribes for himself. Allow ALL the governed an equal voice in the government, and that, and that …

the just powers of governments are derived from the consent of the governed.

this is the leading principle, the sheet-anchor of American republicanism.

no man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent.

When the white man governs himself, that is self-government; but when he governs himself and also governs another man, that is more than self-government — that is despotism. If the negro is a man, why then my ancient faith teaches me that …

The negative principle that no law is free law, is not much known except among lawyers.

Wherever slavery is, it has been first introduced without law. The oldest laws we find concerning it, are not laws introducing it; but regulating it, as an already existing thing.

When Southern people tell us they are no more responsible for the origin of slavery than we are, I acknowledge the fact.

The Republican principle, the unalterable principle, never to be lost sight of, is that slavery is wrong.

The people of these United States are the rightful masters of both Congresses and courts, not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.

Free labor has the inspiration of hope; pure slavery has no hope. The power of hope upon human exertion, and happiness, is wonderful.

Negro equality! Fudge!! How long, in the government of a God, great enough to make and maintain this Universe, shall there continue to be knaves to vend, and fools to gulp, so low a piece of demagougeism as this?

Understanding the spirit of our institutions to aim at the elevation of men, I am opposed to whatever tends to degrade them.

What constitutes the bulwark of our own liberty and independence?

All I ask for the negro is that if you not like him, let him alone. If God gave him but little let him enjoy.

They have seen in his round, jolly fruitful face, post-offices, land-offices, marshalships and cabinet-appointments, charge-ships and foreign missions, bursting out in wonderful exuberance, ready to be laid hold of by their greedy hands. …

Will springs from the two elements of moral sense and self-interest.

As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy.

Our government rests in public opinion. Whoever can change public opinion, can change the government, practically just so much.

Don't interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties. And not to Democrats alone do I make this appeal, but to all who love these great and true principles.

We live in the midst of alarms; anxiety beclouds the future; we expect some new disaster with each newspaper we read.

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed, is more important than any other one thing.