Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 346

            

During his one and only term in the House of Representatives delegates remembered Lincoln’s answering a colleague's objection to federal improvement of the Illinois River because it ran through only one state, by asking through how many states the federally improved Hudson River ran.

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 345

During one of the Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1858 Lincoln was accused of being two-faced. He responded by saying, 'I leave it to this audience to decide: if I had a face different to the one you see in front of you, don't you think I'd be wearing it?'

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 344

'Extemporaneous speaking should be practiced and cultivated. It is the lawyer's avenue to the public. However able and faithful he may be in other respects, people are slow to bring him business if he cannot make a speech.'

- Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 343

Would you vote for this kid and give him a chance?

'Fellow citizens: I have been solicited by many friends to become a candidate for the Legislature. My politics are short and sweet like the old woman's dance. I am in favor of the national bank; I am in favor of the internal improvement system and a high protective tariff. These are my sentiments and political principles. If elected I shall be thankful; if not it will all be just the same.'

- Abraham Lincoln, Aged 23

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 342

'Everybody likes a compliment.'

- Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 341

‘Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition. Whether it be true or not, I can say for one that I have no other so great as that of being truly esteemed by my fellow man, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem’

- Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 340

Lincoln chastising Congress [SOMEBODY WOULD WANT TO!]:

'Fellow-citizens we cannot escape history. We of this Congress and this administration will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance or insignificance can spare one or another of us. The fiery trial through which we pass will light us down in honor or dishonor to the latest generation.'

- Abraham Lincoln