Kees de Mooy - The Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln

THE WISDOM
OF
Abraham Lincoln

Edited by
Kees de Mooy

CITADEL PRESS
Kensington Publishing Corp.
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Copyright 2004 Philosophical Library Inc.
Selection copyright 2004 Kees de Mooy

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2004109739

ISBN: 978-0-8065-2589-1

Table of Contents

Passion has helped us, but can do so no more. It will in future be our enemy. Reasoncold, calculating, unimpassioned reasonmust furnish all the materials for our future support and defense. Let those materials be molded into general intelligence, sound morality, and, in particular, a reverence for the Constitution and laws; and that we improved to the last, that we remained free to the last, that we revered his name to the last, that during his long sleep we permitted no hostile foot to pass over or desecrate his resting place, shall be that which to learn the last trump shall awaken our Washington. Upon these let the proud fabric of freedom rest, as the rock of its basis; and as truly as has been said of the only greater institution, the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Abraham Lincolns Young Mens Lyceum Address (January 27, 1838)

Preface

The Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln consists of extracts from the writings and speeches of the sixteenth president grouped by subject into four major sections: Politics, Civil War, Slavery and Emancipation, and Private Life. As with my previous volumes in the Philosophical Library series The Wisdom of John Adams and The Wisdom of Thomas Jefferson the quotations that I have selected are arranged chronologically, thus giving the reader an opportunity to follow Lincolns public and private thoughts against the backdrop of current events. Brief introductions help to place the quotes in context. Whereas many collections of quotes pare much of the surrounding material away to expose pithy one-liners, I have endeavored to leave as much of the original selection intact as is necessary to understand Lincolns full reasoning on the matter at hand. As a further aid to the reader, a timeline with important biographical and historical events has been included.

Timeline of Abraham Lincolns Life, with Significant Historical Events