15 Abraham Lincoln Quotes That Still Ring True Today

Published: June 14, 2024 by Liam Frady

Abraham Lincoln is one of the great American orators. The 16th president certainly had a way with words, whether it was addressing the nation or just jotting down his thoughts. Join me as we take a look at 15 of my favorite Lincoln quotes.

Religion

*Lincoln curiously was quite the wrestler.*
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“Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”

I do admire Abraham Lincoln’s tact, even when addressing concerns.

Honesty

B
*efore entering politics, Lincoln worked as an attorney.*
©Everett Collection/Shutterstock.com

“You can fool at the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.”

There is something to be said about the way Abraham Lincoln viewed the common person.

Character

*Lincoln is the only president to hold a patent.*
©Alexander Gardner, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons - Original / License

“Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it, the tree is the real thing.”

I love this quote because perception through second-hand accounts can color the way we interpret our relationships.

Resolve

*Before his death, Lincoln advocated for the freed slaves to have the right to vote.*
©Mathew Benjamin Brady / public domain - Original / License

“Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.”

Abraham Lincoln certainly understood what it meant to stand firm and go forward.

Mercy

*Interestingly, Lincoln is still the tallest president at 6’4″.*
©"Abraham Lincoln Template Portrait Oil Painting" by Steven Green Photography is licensed under PDM 1.0. - Original / License

“I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.”

You can only wonder what Reconstruction would have looked like under Abraham Lincoln.

Procrastination

*When it comes to pop culture, Lincoln holds the record for most books about a single individual from the United States.*
©"Abraham Lincoln portrait in the Lincoln room, Blair House, located across from the White House, Washington, D.C. Original image from Carol M. Highsmith’s America, Library of Congress collection. Digitally enhanced by rawpixel." by Free Public Domain Illustrations by rawpixel is licensed under BY 2.0. - Original / License

“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”

It seems like so many great quotes can be summarized as just doing what you need to do now.

Happiness

*Setting a trend, Lincoln was the first president not to be born in the 13 original states in the US.*
©"No Known Restrictions: Portrait of Abraham Lincoln, January 1864 by Brady National Photographic Art Gallery (LOC)" by pingnews.com is licensed under PDM 1.0. - Original / License

“Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

Happiness is subjective, simply put.

Hope

*Sadly, Lincoln was the first president to be killed while in office.*
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“My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of Earth.”

This one strikes a sad note given how ravaged the country became during the American Civil War under Abraham Lincoln’s presidency.

Staying the Course

©Photographer unidentified / public domain - Original / License

“I’m a slow walker, but I never walk back.”

Sometimes you just have to keep moving forward without dwelling on what has happened.

Preparation

*Abraham Lincoln is notable for many firsts, including being the first president to ever be photographed during his inauguration.*
©"Meet Abraham Lincoln" by Marxchivist is licensed under BY 2.0. - Original / License

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

Proper preparation seems to be the key to tackling any task according to Abraham Lincoln.

Legislation

*Speaking of firsts, Lincoln was the first president to sport a beard.*
©"#4 - Jenna Rose Mayle | Abraham Lincoln" by Chicago Art Department is licensed under BY 2.0. - Original / License

“The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly.”

This is a wry quip, but ultimately something that holds true.

Sermons

*Despite his faith, Abraham Lincoln and his wife held seances at the White House.*
©"A little girl seeks inspiration in front of the statue of Abraham Lincoln" by loomingy1 is licensed under BY 2.0. - Original / License

“When I hear a man preach, I like to see him act as if he were fighting bees.”

I love the mental image this one conjures up.

Voting

*During the Civil War there were no telegraph lines, so Lincoln had to go across the street to the War Department to get the latest news.*
©"Abraham Lincoln Mt.Rushmore 1975 Iconique Présidentiel Press Photo" by manhhai is licensed under BY 2.0. - Original / License

“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.”

Using your voice is always going to be stronger than violence.

People

*Lincoln’s son Robert was curiously present for two other presidential assassinations.*
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“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great is to bring them the real facts.”

Abraham Lincoln’s view of the people is something that I think more politicians should have.