Political Quotes

Abraham Lincoln

The Public Record

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. A member of the Republican Party, he is best known for leading the nation through the Civil War and for his efforts to abolish slavery, notably through the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Lincoln's leadership during this tumultuous period helped to preserve the Union and set the stage for the eventual passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, which formally abolished slavery in the United States.

Quotes by year · 183218651,450 total · peak 1862 (337)
1832: 6 quotes1836: 3 quotes1837: 18 quotes1838: 2 quotes1841: 2 quotes1842: 24 quotes1843: 7 quotes1848: 4 quotes1850: 17 quotes1851: 5 quotes1854: 49 quotes1855: 29 quotes1856: 53 quotes1857: 13 quotes1858: 136 quotes1859: 20 quotes1860: 32 quotes1861: 164 quotes1862: 337 quotes1863: 177 quotes1864: 258 quotes1865: 94 quotes
Dec 2, 1861

It is gratifying to know that the expenditures made necessary by the rebellion are not beyond the resources of the loyal people.

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Dec 2, 1861

Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.

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Dec 2, 1861

If it were just to suppose, as the insurgents have seemed to assume, that foreign nations in this case, discarding all moral, social, and treaty obligations, would act solely and selfishly for the most speedy restoration of commerce.

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Dec 2, 1861

Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed.

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Dec 2, 1861

I repeat the recommendation of my predecessor in his annual message to Congress in December last in regard to the disposition of the surplus.

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Nov 26, 1861

The municipal authorities of Washington and Georgetown, in this District, having appointed to-morrow, the 28th instant, as a day of thanksgiving, the several Departments will on that occasion be closed, in order that the officers of the…

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Nov 15, 1861

Complaint has been made to the President of the United States that certain persons within the State of Virginia, in places occupied by the forces of the United States, claim to be incumbents of civil offices--State, county, and…

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Nov 15, 1861

It is therefore ordered, by direction of the President, that if any person shall hereafter attempt within the State of Virginia, under the alleged authority of said Commonwealth, to exercise any official powers of a civil nature within the…

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Nov 6, 1861

They shall be considered as disbanded from the service of the United States whenever the President may so direct.

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Nov 6, 1861

When officers of the said State forces shall act in conjunction with officers of the United States Army of the same grade, the latter shall command the combined force.

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Nov 6, 1861

This force is to cooperate with the troops in the service of the United States in repelling the invasion of the State of Missouri and in suppressing rebellion therein.

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Nov 6, 1861

It is to be held, in camp and in the field, drilled, disciplined, and governed according to the Regulations of the United States Army and subject to the Articles of War; but it is not to be ordered out of the State of Missouri except for…

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Nov 6, 1861

Authority to raise a force of State militia, to serve during the war, is granted, by direction of the President, to the governor of Missouri.

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Nov 4, 1861

This plan approved, with the modification that the governor stipulates that when he commissions a major-general of militia it shall be the same person at the time in command of the United States Department of the West; and in case the…

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Oct 31, 1861

The American people will hear with sadness and deep emotion that General Scott has withdrawn from the active control of the Army.

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Oct 13, 1861

You and any officer acting under your authority are hereby authorized to suspend the writ of habeas corpus in any place between that place and the city of Washington.

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Oct 3, 1861

Flag-officers of the United States Navy authorized to wear a square flag at the mizzenmast head will take rank with major-generals of the United States Army.

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Oct 2, 1861

Let the reservation be established, as recommended by the Secretary of the Interior.

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Sep 14, 1861

When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.

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Aug 15, 1861

I hereby enjoin upon all district attorneys, marshals, and officers of the revenue and of the military and naval forces of the United States to be vigilant in the execution of said act and in the enforcement of the penalties and…

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Aug 15, 1861

all ships and vessels belonging in whole or in part to any citizen or inhabitant of any of said States, with said exceptions, found at sea or in any port of the United States will be forfeited to the United States

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Aug 15, 1861

that all commercial intercourse between the same and the inhabitants thereof, with the exceptions aforesaid, and the citizens of other States and other parts of the United States is unlawful, and will remain unlawful until such…

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Aug 15, 1861

leaving any party who may think himself aggrieved thereby to his application to the Secretary of the Treasury for the remission of any penalty or forfeiture, which the said Secretary is authorized by law to grant if in his judgment the…

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Aug 11, 1861

to pray with all fervency and contrition for the pardon of their past offenses and for a blessing upon their present and prospective action.

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Aug 11, 1861

to pray that we may be spared further punishment, though most justly deserved.

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Politicians like Abraham Lincoln