Political Quotes

On the recordOctober 16, 1854
Near eighty years ago we began by declaring that all men are created equal; but now from that beginning we have run down to the other declaration, that for some men to enslave others is a sacred right of self-government.
Said by
Abraham Lincoln
Republican · Illinois

Editor's note · Context

Lincoln starkly contrasted the Declaration of Independence's assertion of human equality with the modern argument that slavery was a sacred right of self-government, highlighting a profound moral decline.

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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.

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Apr 11, 1865

He said, with a great deal of emphasis, and with an expression of countenance I shall never forget: "When a man is sincerely penitent for his misdeeds, and gives satisfactory evidence of the same, he can safely be pardoned, and there is no…

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