I want it said of me by those who knew me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow. - (Lincoln, Abraham - Action)

As our case is new, we must think and act anew. - (Lincoln, Abraham - Action)

I believe, if we take habitual drunkards as a class, their heads and their hearts will bear an advantageous comparison with those of any other class. There seems ever to have been a proneness in the brilliant and warm-blooded to fall into this vice. - (Lincoln, Abraham - Alcohol and Alcoholism)

I fear explanations explanatory of things explained. - (Lincoln, Abraham - Ambiguity)

Those who write clearly have readers, those who write obscurely have commentators. - (Lincoln, Abraham - Ambiguity)

Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition. - (Lincoln, Abraham - Ambition)

I don't know who my grandfather was; I am much more concerned to know what his grandson will be. - (Lincoln, Abraham - Ancestry)

The Lord prefers common looking people. That is why he made so many of them. - (Lincoln, Abraham - Appearance)

Every person is responsible for his own looks after 40. - (Lincoln, Abraham - Appearance)

The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who'll get me a book I ain't read. - (Lincoln, Abraham - Books - Reading)

To correct the evils, great and small, which spring from want of sympathy and from positive enmity among strangers, as nations or as individuals, is one of the highest functions of civilization. - (Lincoln, Abraham - Brotherhood)

These capitalists generally act harmoniously and in concert, to fleece the people. - (Lincoln, Abraham - Capitalism)

Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration. Capital has its rights, which are as worthy of protection as any other rights. - (Lincoln, Abraham - Capitalism)

If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend. Therein is a drop of honey that catches his heart, which, say what you will, is the great high-road to his reason, and which, when once gained, you will find but little trouble in convincing his judgment of the justice of your cause. - (Lincoln, Abraham - Causes)

Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. - (Lincoln, Abraham - Character)