Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, and he is known for many powerful quotes. His words inspire people even today. Lincoln faced many challenges during his time, but he always found a way to express hope, courage, and unity. In this blog post, we will look at some of his most famous quotes that reflect his wisdom and amazing leadership.
These quotes can be more than just words; they can guide us in our daily lives. Whether we face tough situations at school, work, or home, Lincoln’s wise sayings remind us to stay strong and keep trying. His thoughts encourage kindness, honesty, and determination, which can help us become better people each day.
Top Abraham Lincoln Famous Quotes
Words have the power to shape thought and action; a single phrase can steady the heart in turmoil and inspire moral courage. These selections highlight Lincoln’s clarity, moral conviction, and practical wisdom—reminders that steady leadership often comes from humble, steadfast reasoning.
“A house divided against itself cannot stand.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Whatever you are, be a good one.” – Abraham Lincoln
“My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I am a slow walker, but I never walk back.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.” – Abraham Lincoln
“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” – Abraham Lincoln
“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln Famous Quotes on Leadership
Leadership is tested in crisis and defined by humility. Lincoln’s remarks on leading show that courage, patience, and moral clarity are the pillars of effective leadership—qualities that help leaders serve others rather than themselves.
“Nearly all men can stand adversity; but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I would rather be a little nobody, then to be an evil somebody.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.” – Abraham Lincoln
“A leader’s first duty is to be right; his second is to make others believe he is right.” – Abraham Lincoln
“When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad, and that is my religion.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed.” – Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln Famous Quotes on Courage
Courage isn’t the absence of fear but action despite it. Lincoln’s words teach that moral courage—standing for truth and justice—creates enduring change more than any single brave act.
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis.” – Abraham Lincoln
“To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.” – Abraham Lincoln
“We should be too big to take offense and too noble to give it.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I do the very best I know how — the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I would rather be assassinated than surrender the cause of liberty.” – Abraham Lincoln
“The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Unless we are prepared to give up, we cannot fail.” – Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln Famous Quotes on Unity
Unity is a practical, moral choice. Lincoln’s thoughts on unity emphasize that shared purpose, tolerance, and mutual respect are essential for a nation’s survival and for healthier communities.
“A house divided against itself cannot stand.” – Abraham Lincoln
“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies.” – Abraham Lincoln
“If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Union, priority; union, safety; union, success.” – Abraham Lincoln
“The better part of one’s life consists of his friendships.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us to the end dare to do our duty as we understand it.” – Abraham Lincoln
“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” – Abraham Lincoln
“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I would save the Union by any lawful means.” – Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln Famous Quotes on Perseverance
Perseverance is persistence with purpose. Lincoln’s life and phrases remind us that steady effort, patience, and learning from setbacks produce progress even when hope seems distant.
“I am a slow walker, but I never walk back.” – Abraham Lincoln
“My best friend is a person who will give me a book I have not read.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I will prepare and some day my chance will come.” – Abraham Lincoln
“If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?” – Abraham Lincoln
“Be not concerned that you have no current friends who can help you, but rather that you may know how to be a friend to yourself.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I walk slowly, but I never walk backward.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.” – Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln Famous Quotes on Wisdom
True wisdom blends experience, humility, and the willingness to learn. Lincoln’s observations reveal a mind that valued reflection, careful judgment, and the quiet power of common sense.
“I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Better to be right than to be president.” – Abraham Lincoln
“The better part of one’s life consists of his friendships.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true.” – Abraham Lincoln
“When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad, and that is my religion.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition. If I could have my choice, I would be the greatest unit of usefulness I could.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I will study and get ready, and perhaps my chance will come.” – Abraham Lincoln
“It has long been my private sorrow that I have not been a better man.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.” – Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln Famous Quotes on Honesty
Honesty is a steadying force in both leadership and everyday life. Lincoln’s insistence on truth and moral integrity serves as a guide for ethical conduct and trust-building in communities.
“I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow.” – Abraham Lincoln
“A friend is one who has the same enemies as you have.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.” – Abraham Lincoln
“No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.” – Abraham Lincoln
“The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.” – Abraham Lincoln
“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Whatever you are, be a good one.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I would rather die a little than be false to a great truth.” – Abraham Lincoln
“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” – Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln Famous Quotes on Freedom and Equality
Freedom and equality are moral imperatives that require courage and perseverance. Lincoln’s statements affirm the dignity of every person and the national purpose of extending liberty to all.
“Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.” – Abraham Lincoln
“In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.” – Abraham Lincoln
“As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I am in favour of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being.” – Abraham Lincoln
“The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present.” – Abraham Lincoln
“My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I would save the Union. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Those who deny rights to others will never be secure in their own.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Let us judge not that we be not judged.” – Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln Famous Quotes on War and Peace
War tests the soul of a nation; Lincoln’s reflections balance the grim necessity of conflict with the hope for reconciliation and the moral costs we must weigh in its pursuit.
“I would save the Union by any lawful means.” – Abraham Lincoln
“The better part of one’s life consists of his friendships.” – Abraham Lincoln
“If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I have never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away.” – Abraham Lincoln
“The world has never had a good definition of the word liberty.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I am not concerned that you have fallen — I am concerned that you arise.” – Abraham Lincoln
“We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Without courage, all other virtues lose their meaning.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Let us have peace.” – Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln Famous Quotes on Humility
Humility grounds leadership and opens space for learning. Lincoln’s remarks about modesty and self-knowledge remind us that greatness often speaks softly and acts humbly.
“I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.” – Abraham Lincoln
“If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?” – Abraham Lincoln
“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I do the very best I know how—the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I am a slow walker, but I never walk back.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I laugh because I must not cry, that is all, that is all.” – Abraham Lincoln
“The better part of one’s life consists of his friendships.” – Abraham Lincoln
“He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.” – Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln Famous Quotes on Decisions and Judgment
Good decisions rest on clear thinking and moral courage. Lincoln’s counsel on judgment and action offers practical wisdom for choosing rightly under pressure.
“Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Folks are usually about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I will study and get ready, and perhaps my chance will come.” – Abraham Lincoln
“When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad, and that is my religion.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.” – Abraham Lincoln
“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” – Abraham Lincoln
“The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.” – Abraham Lincoln
“He who represents himself has a fool for a client.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I am in favor of the Constitution; I am in favor of preserving the Union.” – Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln Famous Quotes on Wit and Humor
Lincoln used humor to teach and to defuse tension. His witticisms were never cruel; they illuminated truth and made complicated issues more human and understandable.
“If I could not laugh, I would die.” – Abraham Lincoln
“If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?” – Abraham Lincoln
“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.” – Abraham Lincoln
“No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.” – Abraham Lincoln
“When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad.” – Abraham Lincoln
“The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly.” – Abraham Lincoln
“He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I am a slow walker, but I never walk back.” – Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln Famous Quotes on Family and Home
Home and family anchored Lincoln’s life and values. His remarks about domestic life reflect tenderness, responsibility, and the quiet importance of personal bonds in shaping character.
“My best friend is a person who will give me a book I have not read.” – Abraham Lincoln
“The better part of one’s life consists of his friendships.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I laugh because I must not cry, that is all, that is all.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Whatever you are, be a good one.” – Abraham Lincoln
“He who represents himself has a fool for a client.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I am in favor of the Constitution; I am in favor of preserving the Union; I am in favor of the rights of the states, but I am in favor of the unity of the people.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I will prepare and some day my chance will come.” – Abraham Lincoln
“The better part of life is the small, steady acts of care we give to one another.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.” – Abraham Lincoln
“A nation that does not honor its past has no future.” – Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln Famous Quotes on Morality and Religion
Lincoln’s moral reflections mix deep personal faith with a practical sense of justice. He saw conscience as central to public life and urged that moral convictions guide political decisions.
“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.” – Abraham Lincoln
“When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad, and that is my religion.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I am a slow walker, but I never walk back.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Probably the safest rule in theology is to be sure you are right, and then go ahead and be as charitable as you can.” – Abraham Lincoln
“The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who’ll get me a book I haven’t read.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.” – Abraham Lincoln
“He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.” – Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln Famous Quotes on Reflection and Learning
Lincoln valued learning and reflection as tools for improvement. His words encourage continuous self-education and humility—acknowledging faults while striving to be better tomorrow than today.
“I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.” – Abraham Lincoln
“My best friend is a person who will give me a book I have not read.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I will study and get ready, and perhaps my chance will come.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.” – Abraham Lincoln
“A capacity and taste for reading gives access to whatever has already been discovered by others.” – Abraham Lincoln
“The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who’ll get me a book I haven’t read.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I am a slow walker, but I never walk back.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I will prepare and some day my chance will come.” – Abraham Lincoln
“When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.” – Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln Famous Quotes on Character and Reputation
Character is what you are in the dark; reputation is what others see. Lincoln’s musings stress inner integrity as the true measure of a person’s worth and the foundation of lasting respect.
“Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Reputation is the shadow. The tree is the man.” – Abraham Lincoln
“He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.” – Abraham Lincoln
“No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I would rather be a little nobody, then to be an evil somebody.” – Abraham Lincoln
“I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.” – Abraham Lincoln
“When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad.” – Abraham Lincoln
“A majority of one does not make truth.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.” – Abraham Lincoln
“The highest courage is the daily courage to confront the ordinary.” – Abraham Lincoln
Final Thoughts
Abraham Lincoln’s quotes continue to resonate because they address universal human truths: courage in adversity, humility in leadership, and the moral responsibility to seek justice. His words blend practical wisdom with deep compassion, offering guidance for both public life and private conduct.
Whether facing challenges at work, standing up for what is right, or striving to improve ourselves, Lincoln’s sayings remind us that character, perseverance, and empathy matter. His legacy endures not just in history books but in everyday choices that shape communities and nations.
Take these quotations as prompts—use them to reflect, to lead with integrity, and to act with kindness. Embracing Lincoln’s principles can help turn difficult times into opportunities for growth and unity.
Interested in discovering more inspiring lives and ideas? Explore more topics and essays to read and deepen your understanding of leadership, history, and personal growth.