Abraham Lincoln

In the course of Human events if the people will not come together to accept the responsibility of protecting and care for their neighbor and his or her rights with an equal enthusiasm they have for their own rights then they have lost the genius of their “own independence and become the fit subjects of the first cunning tyrant who rises among you.” Abraham Lincoln, September 11, 1858.

Abraham Lincoln’s October 16, 1854 Peoria speech, arguing that fundamental human drives—specifically the sense of justice or desire for liberty—cannot be legislated away, even if other laws or compromises are repealed.

"Argue as you will, and long as you will, this is the naked FRONT and ASPECT, of the measure. And in this aspect, it could not but produce agitation. Slavery is founded in the selfishness of man's nature---opposition to it, is [in?] his love of justice. These principles are an eternal antagonism; and when brought into collision so fiercely, as slavery extension brings them, shocks, and throes, and convulsions must ceaselessly follow. Repeal the Missouri compromise---repeal all compromises---repeal the declaration of independence---repeal all past history, you still can not repeal human nature. It still will be the abundance of man's heart, that slavery extension is wrong; and out of the abundance of his heart, his mouth will continue to speak."

Lincoln argued that even if the Missouri Compromise, the Declaration of Independence, and all past history were repealed, "you still cannot repeal human nature". He maintained that the innate human sense of injustice regarding slavery could not be erased by political maneuvering nor legislate morality.

"Repeal the Missouri compromise---repeal all compromises---repeal the declaration of independence---repeal all past history, you still can not repeal human nature. It still will be the abundance of man's heart, that slavery extension is wrong; and out of the abundance of his heart, his mouth will continue to speak."

“Accustomed to trampling on the rights of others you have lost the genius of your own independence and become the fit subjects of the first cunning tyrant who rises among you.” Abraham Lincoln, September 11, 1858.

“The Government should create, issue, and circulate all the currency and credits needed to satisfy the spending power of the Government and the buying power of consumers. By the adoption of these principles, the taxpayers will be saved immense sums of interest. Money will cease to be master and become the servant of humanity. Democracy will rise superior to the money power."

“The privilege of creating and issuing money is not only the supreme prerogative of Government, but it is the Government's greatest creative opportunity. By the adoption of these principles, the long-felt want for a uniform medium will be satisfied. The taxpayers will be saved immense sums of interest, discounts and exchanges. The financing of all public enterprises, the maintenance of stable government and ordered progress, and the conduct of the Treasury will become matters of practical administration. The people can and will be furnished with a currency as safe as their own government. Money will cease to be the master and become the servant of humanity. Democracy will rise superior to the money power.” -President Abraham Lincoln, signed the Legal Tender Act, allowing paper money.

"We were proclaiming ourselves political hypocrites before the world, by thus fostering Human Slavery and proclaiming ourselves, at the same time, the sole friends of Human Freedom." Abraham Lincoln

"you can't escape tomorrow's responsibilities by evading it today" - Abraham Lincoln

"Lonely men seek companionship. Lonely women sit at home and wait. They never meet." Abraham Lincoln

"The man who stands by and says nothing, when the peril of his government is discussed, can not be misunderstood. If not hindered, he is sure to help the enemy." Abraham Lincoln

"The privilege of creating and issuing money is not only the supreme prerogative of government, but it is the government's greatest creative opportunity." Abraham Lincoln

"As the patriots of seventy-six did to the support of the Declaration of Independence, so to the support of the Constitution and Laws, let every American pledge his life, his property, and his sacred honor;-let every man remember that to violate the law, is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear the character of his own, and his children's liberty." Abraham Lincoln

"I am for . . . each individual doing just as he chooses in all matters which concern nobody else." Abraham Lincoln