Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1861.You have no oath registered in heaven to destroy the Government, while I shall have the most solemn one to ‘preserve, protect, and defend it’.” You can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors. “In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow-countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. Letter to Joseph Hooker, January 26, 1863.“You are ambitious, which, within reasonable bounds, does good rather than harm.” “I say ‘try’ if we never try, we shall never succeed.” Letter to Quintin Campbell, June 28, 1862.On the contrary, if you falter, and give up, you will lose the power of keeping any resolution, and will regret it all your life.” “Adhere to your purpose and you will soon feel as well as you ever did. For instance, do you suppose that I should have ever got into notice if I had waited to be hunted up and pushed forward by older men?”

You must not wait to be brought forward by the older men.

Announcement for office, March 9, 1832.How far I shall succeed in gratifying this ambition, is yet to be developed.” Whether it be true or not, I can say for one that I have no other so great as that of being truly esteemed of my fellow men, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem. “Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition. Speech to One Hundred Sixty-sixth Ohio Regiment, August 22, 1864.I am living witness that any one of your children may look to come here as my father’s child has.” “I happen temporarily to occupy this big White House.

Ambition and Opportunity – Civil War and Secession – Constitution – Criticism – Declaration of Independence – Democracy – Determination and Discipline – Education and Self-Development – Equality – Ethics and Honesty – God and Prayer – Grief and Mourning – Labor and Work – Life – Patience and Perseverance – Public Opinion and Persuasion – Reason and Argument – Slavery and Freedom – United States and Union – War and Soldiers

Quotes on avoiding conflict