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Abraham Lincoln: Speeches & Writings Part 2: 1859-1865: Library of America #46

Book by Abraham Lincoln · 31 quotes · Ifs, People, Civil War

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Abraham Lincoln: Speeches & Writings Part 2: 1859-1865: Library of America #46 Quotes

“A majority held in restraint by constitutional checks and limitations, and always changing easily with deliberate changes of popular opinions and sentiments, is the only true sovereign of a free people. Whoever rejects it does of necessity fly to anarchy or to despotism. Unanimity is impossible. The rule of a minority, as a permanent arrangement, is wholly inadmissible; so that, rejecting the majority principle, anarchy or despotism in some form is all that is left.”

PeopleDoeFormLeftOpinionPrinciplesImpossibleMajorityChecksLimitationPermanentMinoritiesRejectsSentimentsAnarchyArrangementsSovereignRestraintDeliberateDespotismRejectingPopular OpinionUnanimity
Book:Abraham Lincoln: Speeches & Writings Part 2: 1859-1865: Library of America #46
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“Our eldest boy, Bob, has been away from us nearly a year at school, and will enter Harvard University this month. He promises verywell, considering we never controlled him much.”

YearsChildrenHas BeensSchoolBoysMonthsPromiseUniversityControlledBobConsideringRaising ChildrenHarvardEldestHarvard University
Book:Abraham Lincoln: Speeches & Writings Part 2: 1859-1865: Library of America #46
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“I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause. I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views.”

TryingBelieveHelpingSuccessCausesChangeHurtViewsBusinessErrorsBeing TrueBelive
Book:Abraham Lincoln: Speeches & Writings Part 2: 1859-1865: Library of America #46
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“I say now, however, as I have all the while said, that on the territorial question - that is, the question of extending slavery under the national auspices, - I am inflexible. I am for no compromise which assists or permits the extension of the institution on soil owned by the nation.”

SaidNationsInstitutionsSlaveryCompromiseSoilPermitExtensionsExtendingTerritorialNo Compromise
Book:Abraham Lincoln: Speeches & Writings Part 2: 1859-1865: Library of America #46
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“But I must add that the U.S. government must not, as by this order, undertake to run the churches. 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. It will not do for the U.S. to appoint Trustees, Supervisors, or other agents for the churches.”

GovernmentCareRunningOrderIndividualInterestChurchReligiousDangerousAddTake CareAgentsPublic InterestSupervisorsTrustees
Book:Abraham Lincoln: Speeches & Writings Part 2: 1859-1865: Library of America #46
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“I do not wish to be misunderstood upon this subject of slavery in this country. I suppose it may long exist, and perhaps the best way for it to come to an end peaceably is for it to exist for a length of time. But I say that the spread and strengthening and perpetuation of it is an entirely different proposition. There we should in every way resist it as a wrong, treating it as a wrong, with the fixed idea that it must and will come to an end.”

WayShouldMayLongIdeasDifferentEndsCountryWishSubjectsSlaverySpreadBest WayFixedLengthPropositionsMisunderstoodStrengthening
Book:Abraham Lincoln: Speeches & Writings Part 2: 1859-1865: Library of America #46
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“I think that one of the causes of these repeated failures is that our best and greatest men have greatly underestimated the size of this question (slavery). They have constantly brought forward small cures for great sores-plasters too small to cover the wound. That is one reason that all settlements have proved so temporary-so evanescent.”

ThinkingMenReasonCausesSlaverySizeWoundsCuresTemporarySettlementUnderestimatedPlastersGreatest ManRepeated Failure
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“I repeat the declaration made a year ago, that 'while I remain in my present position I shall not attempt to retract or modify the emancipation proclamation, nor shall I return to slavery any person who is free by the terms of that proclamation, or by any of the Acts of Congress.' If the people should, by whatever mode or means, make it an Executive duty to re-enslave such persons, another, and not I, must be their instrument to perform it.”

PeopleIfsShouldYearsMeanPersonsMadeTermPositionDutyReturnYears AgoSlaveryInstrumentsCongressRepeatsExecutivesDeclarationEmancipationProclamationEmancipation Proclamation
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“There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one. There is involved in this struggle the question whether your children and my children shall enjoy the privileges we have enjoyed.”

ChildrenWarEnjoyStruggleInvolvedOur ChildrenPrivilegeEnjoyedMy ChildrenYour ChildrenCivil WarContests
Book:Abraham Lincoln: Speeches & Writings Part 2: 1859-1865: Library of America #46
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“If any personal description of me is thought desirable, it may be said, I am, in height, six feet, four inches, nearly; lean in flesh, weighing on an average one hundred and eighty pounds; dark complexion, with coarse black hair, and grey eyes -- no other marks or brands recollected.”

IfsMaySaidEyeBlackDarkFourFeetHairSixHundredMarkAverageFleshBrandsHeightDescriptionPoundsInchesGreyDesirableEightyCoarseWeighingComplexionBlack HairGrey Eyes
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“I never did ask more, nor ever was willing to accept less, than for all the States, and the people thereof, to take and hold their places, and their rights, in the Union, under the Constitution of the United States. For this alone have I felt authorized to struggle; and I seek neither more nor less now.”

PeopleStatesAsksFeltUnitedAcceptingUnited StatesStruggleRightsWillingConstitutionUnionsConstitution Of The United States
Book:Abraham Lincoln: Speeches & Writings Part 2: 1859-1865: Library of America #46
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