Not often in the story of mankind does a man arrive on earth who is both steel and velvet, who is as hard as rock and soft as drifting fog, who holds in his heart and mind the paradox of terrible storm and peace unspeakable and perfect.

Carl Sandburg (1878-1967) American poet, biographer

Address to Congress on 150th Anniversary of Lincoln’s birth (12 Feb 1959)

Quoted in Congressional Record, vol. 105, p. 2265.