How hard, oh, how hard it is to die and leave one’s country no better than if one had never lived for it.

Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861–65)

Remark (1850-09?) to William H. Herndon
    (Source)

After the Compromise of 1850. Recounted in a letter twenty years later (1870-03-06) from Herndon (Lincoln's law partner) to Ward H. Lamon (Lincoln's friend, US Marshal, and self-appointed bodyguard).