Abraham Lincoln: “Here is where the greatest danger lies--that, while we profess to be a government of law and reason, law will give way…”

Important principles may and must be inflexible.

I believe that it is not only possible, but in fact easier, to do this without deciding or even considering whether these States have ever been out of the Union, than with it.

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

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.