Abraham Lincoln: “The battle of freedom is to be fought out on principle.”

If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business.

Important principles may and must be inflexible.

If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won't amount to anything.

As a general rule I abstain from reading the reports of attacks upon myself, wishing not to be provoked by that to which I cannot properly offer an answer.