Abe Lincoln in Illinois Quotes

Mentor Graham Abe carried New Salem by 205 votes to 3.

Jack Armstrong My boys are out tryin to find the 3 skunks who voted wrong.

Mary Todd Lincoln Stephen Douglas has arrived. Listen to them cheering for him!

Abraham Lincoln They ought to cheer. He paid em enough for it.

Sarah Bush Lincoln Wherever you go, whatever you do, you remember what the Good Book Says: "The world passeth, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.

Abraham Lincoln I'll remember, maw.

Abraham Lincoln A house divided against itself cannot stand. The government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free.

Ninian Edwards What'll yuh do, Abe?

Abraham Lincoln Judge Stuart's offered me a chance to work in his law office in Springfield. Course I don't know much about the law, but there's one thing I've learned here in politics... that ignorance is no obstacle to advancement. In fact, in some cases it's quite an advantage.

Mr. Crimmin Gentlemen, I may not know as much as you about economics and theology, but I do know politics and what is the essential quality that we demand in our candidate. It is simply this: that he be able to get himself elected.

Politician Well, there's something in what you say.

Politician And do you think he can do it?

Mr. Crimmin I tell you, gentlemen, in that uncouth rail splitter you may observe one of the slickest, smoothest politicians that ever hoodwinked a yokel mob.

Aide to Stephen Douglas You don't mean to say you're afraid of Abe Lincoln. Why, the country doesn't know him!

Stephen Douglas Maybe the country doesn't... but I do.

Mentor Graham Well, Abe, there are always two occupations open to those who have failed at everything else: school teaching and politics.

Lincoln's Cook President of the United States! If they get him back there into Washington, he won't ever come out alive.

Jack Armstrong I tell you, you all ought to listen to the judge. He got a round belly but a level head. No one can do nothin with me without lickin me first!

Abraham Lincoln I'd have to tell her that I have hatred for her infernal ambition. That I don't want to be ridden and driven onward and upward through life with her whip bashing me and her spurs digging in me. If her poor little soul craves importance in life let her marry ]. He's ambitious too. I want only to be left alone.

Abraham Lincoln Careful. Billy, you've got great fires in yuh, but you're puttin em out fast.

Abraham Lincoln Why do you take every opportunity you can to make a public fool out of me and yourself? It's bad enough when you act like that in the privacy of our own home, but here in front of people! You're not to do that again, do you hear? You're never to do that again!

Mary Todd Lincoln You never spoke to me like that before. You lost your temper, Abe... you've never done that before.

Abraham Lincoln I'm sorry. I still think you should go home rather than stay here and endure the strain of this Death Watch.

Mary Todd Lincoln This is the night I dreamed about when I was a child... when I was an excited young girl and all the gay young gentlemen of Springfield were courting me... and I fell in love with the least likely of them. This is the night I'm waiting to hear that my husband is become President of the United States... and even if he does, it's ruined for me. It's too late.