– Government, Democracy, and Country –

Let reverence for the laws, be breathed by every American mother, to the lisping babe, that prattles on her lap—let it be taught in schools, in seminaries, and in colleges;—let it be written in Primers, spelling books, and in Almanacs;—let it be preached from the pulpit, proclaimed in legislative halls, and enforced in courts of justice. And, in short, let it become the political religion of the nation; and let the old and the young, the rich and the poor, the grave and the gay, of all sexes and tongues, and colors and conditions, sacrifice unceasingly upon its altars.

—Speech to the Young Men’s Lyceum of Springfield, January 27, 1838

At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time or die by suicide.

—Speech to the Young Men’s Lyceum of Springfield, January 27, 1838

I am exceedingly anxious that this Union, the Constitution, and the liberties of the people shall be perpetuated in accordance with the original idea for which that struggle was made, and I shall be most happy indeed if I shall be an humble instrument in the hands of the Almighty, and of this, his almost chosen people, for perpetuating the object of that great struggle.

—Speech to the New Jersey Senate, Trenton, New Jersey, February 21, 1861

The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do at all, or can not so well do, for themselves—in their separate, and individual capacities.

—Speech entitled “Fragments on Government,” 1854

Must a government, of necessity, be too strong for the liberties of its own people, or too weak to maintain its own existence?

—Special Message to Congress, July 4, 1861

It appears that if all men were just, there still would be some, though not so much, need of government.

—Speech entitled “Fragments on Government,” 1854

I go for all sharing the privileges of the government, who assist in bearing its burdens.

—Letter to Sangamon Journal, June 13, 1836

It is as much the duty of government to render prompt justice against itself, in favor of citizens, as it is to administer the same between private individuals.

—First Annual Message to Congress, December 3, 1861

This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember, or overthrow it.

—First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1861

Why should there not be a patient confidence in the ultimate justice of the people? Is there any better or equal hope in the world?

—First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1861

As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy.

—Written and signed by Lincoln in the form of an autograph, from The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln edited by H. Jack Lang

The Democracy of today hold the liberty of one man to be absolutely nothing, when in conflict with another man’s right of property; Republicans, on the contrary, are for both the man and the dollar, but in case of conflict the man before the dollar.

—Lincoln’s letter in response to group asking him to attend a celebration in honor of Thomas Jefferson’s birthday, April 6, 1859

The part assigned to me is to raise the flag, which, if there be no fault in the machinery, I will do, and when up, it will be for the people to keep it up.

—Speech at flag-raising at the Treasury Building, said to be Lincoln’s briefest public address, from The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln edited by H. Jack Lang

It is not merely for today, but for all time to come that we should perpetuate for our children’s children this great and free government, which we have enjoyed all our lives.

—Speech to 166th Ohio Regiment, August 22, 1864

It is not my nature, when I see a people borne down by the weight of their shackles—the oppression of tyranny—to make their life more bitter by heaping upon them greater burdens; but rather would I do all in my power to raise the yoke, than to add anything that would tend to crush them. Inasmuch as our country is extensive and new, and the countries of Europe are densely populated, if there are any abroad who desire to make this the land of their adoption, it is not in my heart to throw aught in their way, to prevent them from coming to the United States.

—Speech to Germans at Cincinnati, Ohio, February 12, 1861

There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one. There is involved in this struggle the question whether your children and my children shall enjoy the privileges we have enjoyed.

—Speech to 164th Ohio Regiment, August 22, 1864

How hard, oh, how hard it is to die and leave one’s country no better than if one had never lived for it!

—Remark to William H. Herndon, from The Hidden Lincoln: From the Letters and Papers of William H. Herndon edited by Emanuel Hertz