Abraham Lincoln

If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six hours sharpening my ax.

You can fool all the people a part of the time, or a part of the people all the time; but you can never fool all the people all the time.

If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?

The ballot is stronger than the bullet.

Teach my son, if you can, the wonder of books. But also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and the flowers on a green hillside. Teach him it is far more honourable to fail than to cheat.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.

I will say, then, that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races; that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say, in addition to this, that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And in as much as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.