You cannot escape the responsibility tomorrow by evading it today.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
(Attributed)
I do the very best I know how — the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won’t amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
(Attributed)
In Francis Carpenter, Six Months at the White House, ch. 68 (1866)
My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
(Attributed)
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
(Attributed)
As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
“On Slavery and Democracy” (fragment) (1858?)
What I do say is that no man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent. I say this is the leading principle, the sheet-anchor of American republicanism. […] According to our ancient faith, the just powers of governments are derived from the consent of the governed. Now the relation of master and slave is pro tanto a total violation of this principle. The master not only governs the slave without his consent, but he governs him by a set of rules altogether different from those which he prescribes for himself. Allow all the governed an equal voice in the government, and that, and that only, is self-government.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
Speech at Peoria, Illinois (1854)
In response to Stephen Douglas. Full text.
That some should be rich, shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprize. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another; but let him labor diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
Reply to New York Workingmen’s Democratic Republican Association (21 Mar 1864)
With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan — to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
Inaugural Address, conclusion (4 Mar 1865)
(Source)
A majority held in restraint by constitutional checks and limitations … is the only true sovereign of a free people. Whoever rejects it does of necessity fly to anarchy or to despotism.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
First Inaugural Address (1861)
When I am getting ready to persuade a man, I spend one third of the time thinking about myself what I’m going to say and two thirds of the time thinking about him and what he is going to say.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
(Attributed)
I claim not to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have controlled me.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
Letter to Albert G. Hodges (4 Apr. 1864)
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
Letter to Isham Reavis (5 Nov 1855)
The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
Annual Message to Congress (1 Dec 1862)
If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend six sharpening my axe.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
(Attributed)
No man has a good enough memory to make a successful liar.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
(Attributed)
If you love the sacred and despise the ordinary, you are still bobbing in the ocean of delusion.
Lin-Chi (1915-1973) Chinese T'ang master
(Attributed)
Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.
Lin Yu-t'ang (1895-1976) Chinese writer
(Attributed)
Posterity sometimes just seems like a drunk passing out cigars at random – when it passes over men like John you realize how arbitrary fortune can be, and how the Valhalla of the Briefly Reknowned But Mostly Obscure is probably the most interesting quarter of the afterlife.
James Lileks (b. 1958) American journalist, columnist
The Bleat (21 Apr 2003)
http://www.lileks.com/bleats/archive/03/0403/042103.html
The modern world breaks down into two categories — those who say things like
James Lileks (b. 1958) American journalist, columnist
The Bleat (27 Nov. 2002)
Always make sure that the vehemence with which you express your opinions has a toehold in reality, or people who actually know something about the subject will conclude you
James Lileks (b. 1958) American journalist, columnist
The Bleat (25 Mar 2002)
The passage of time makes these men seem unhuman. We need to remember that they weren’t dropped on the planet by leather-winged minions of Moloch. They were people. Hitler brushed his teeth; Hitler took a leak and may have whistled while he did so. He may have clipped his toenails while listening to light opera on the Gramophone. Being evil is not a full-time job.
James Lileks (b. 1958) American journalist, columnist
The Bleat (28 Feb. 2003)
http://www.lileks.com/bleats/archive/03/0203/022803.html
Any vacation would, under the current circumstances, not be a vacation at all, unless my dearly beloved child can be cryogenically frozen and stored. Even if this were possible, I would spend the vacation worrying about the reliability of the power supply in the freezers.
James Lileks (b. 1958) American journalist, columnist
The Bleat (16 Aug. 2002)
http://www.lileks.com/bleats/archive/02/0802/080202.html#081602
All because some guy didn’t tie down his cargo. Will the offender ever know what he did? Not in this life. I
James Lileks (b. 1958) American journalist, columnist
The Bleat (10 Oct. 2002)
Obviously crime pays, or there’d be no crime.
G. Gordon Liddy (1930-2021) American political operative, commentator, actor
(Attributed)
Never undertake anything for which you wouldn’t have the courage to ask the blessing of heaven.
Georg C. Lichtenberg (1742-1799) German physicist, writer
(Attributed)
With most people, disbelief in one thing is founded on blind belief in another.
Georg C. Lichtenberg (1742-1799) German physicist, writer
Aphorisms, Notebook L, #81 [p. 674] (1796-99) [tr. Tester (2012)]
(Source)
Alternate translations:
- "With most people, unbelief in one thing is founded upon blind belief in another."
- "With most people disbelief in a thing is founded on a blind belief in some other thing." [tr. Hollingdale (1990)]
One’s first step in wisdom is to question everything — and one’s last is to come to terms with everything.
Georg C. Lichtenberg (1742-1799) German physicist, writer
(Attributed)
Before we blame, we should first see if we can’t excuse.
Georg C. Lichtenberg (1742-1799) German physicist, writer
Nachtrag zu den moralischen Bemerkungen
You can’t accept one individual’s opinion, particularly if it’s a female and you know — God willing, I hope, for her sake, it’s not the case — but when they get a period, it’s really difficult for them to function as normal human beings.
Jerry Lewis (1926-2017) American comic actor, filmmaker, philanthropist
(1986)
Responding to a harsh review from a female critic
I willingly believe that the damned are, in one sense, successful, rebels to the end; that the doors of hell are locked on the inside.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
The Problem of Pain, ch. 8
There is something awfully nice about reading a book again, with all the half-unconscious memories it brings back.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
The Letters of C.S. Lewis to Arthur Greeves (16 Nov. 1915)
Not that I am (I think) in much danger of ceasing to believe in God. The real danger is of coming to believe such dreadful things about Him. The conclusion I dread is not, “So, there’s no God after all,” but, “So this is what God’s really like. Deceive yourself no longer.”
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
A Grief Observed, ch. 1 (1961)
Humans are very seldom either totally sincere or totally hypocritical. Their moods change, their motives are mixed, and they are often themselves quite mistaken as to what their motives are.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
Letters to an American Lady (28 Mar. 1961)
Well, let’s go on disagreeing but don’t let us judge. What doesn’t suit us may suit possible converts of a different type. My model here is the behaviour of the congregation at a ‘Russian Orthodox’ service, where some sit, some lie on their faces, some stand, some kneel, some walk about, and no one takes the slightest idea of what anyone else is doing. That is good sense, good manners, and good Christianity.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
Letters of C.S. Lewis (13 Mar 1956)
If you think of this world as a place intended simply for our happiness, you find it quite intolerable: think of it as a place of training and correction and it’s not so bad.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
“Answers to Questions on Christianity”
Suppose I pray that you may be given grace to withstand your besetting sin (short list of candidates for this post will be forwarded on demand). Well, all the work has to be done by God and you. If I pray against my own besetting sin there will be work for me. One sometimes fights shy of admitting an act to be a sin for this very reason.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
Letters to Malcolm, ch. 12
The false religion of lust is baser than the false religion of mother-love or patriotism or art. But lust is less likely to be made into a religion.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
The Great Divorce
God loves us; not because we are loveable but because He is love, not because He needs to receive but because He delights to give.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
Letters of C.S. Lewis (undated)
There seems no plan because it’s all plan. There seems no center because it’s all center.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
(Attributed)
May God’s grace give you the necessary humility. Try not to think — much less, speak — of their sins. One’s own are a much more profitable theme! And if, on consideration, one can find no faults on one’s own side, then cry for mercy: for this must be a most dangerous delusion.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
Letters to an American Lady (9 Jan 1961)
Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You, too? Thought I was the only one.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
(Attributed)
What do people mean when they say, “I am not afraid of God because I know He is good”? Have they never been to a dentist?
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
A Grief Observed (1961)
Apologetic work is so dangerous to one’s faith. A doctrine never seems dimmer to me than when I have just successfully defended it.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
Letters of C.S. Lewis (2 Aug. 1946)
There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says, in the end, “Thy will be done.” All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. To those who knock it is opened.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
The Great Divorce, ch. 9
I’m not sure God wants us to be happy. I think he wants us to love, and be loved. But we are like children, thinking our toys will make us happy and the whole world is our nursery. Something must drive us out of that nursery and into the lives of others, and that something is suffering.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
(Attributed)
We must sometimes get away from the Authorized Version, if for no other reason, simply because it is so beautiful and so solemn. Beauty exalts, but beauty also lulls. Early associations endear, but they also confuse. Through that beautiful solemnity, the transporting or horrifying realities of which the Book tells may come to us blunted and disarmed, and we may only sigh with tranquil veneration when we ought to be burning with shame, or struck dumb with terror, or carried out of ourselves by ravishing hopes and adorations.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
God in the Dock
An explanation of cause is not a justification by reason.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
(Attributed)
We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
Letters of C.S. Lewis (29 Apr. 1959)
In some way, it is natural for us to wish that God had designed for us a less glorious and less arduous destiny; but then we are wishing not for more love but for less.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
The Problem of Pain (1940)
Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up save in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket — safe, dark, motionless, airless — it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
The Four Loves
What does not satisfy when we find it, was not the thing we were desiring.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
The Pilgrim’s Regress, Bk. 7, Ch. 9
Telling us to obey instinct is like telling us to obey ‘people.’ People say different things: so do instincts. Our instincts are at war…. Each instinct, if you listen to it, will claim to be gratified at the expense of the rest .
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
The Abolition of Man
There’s something in natural affection which will lead it on to eternal love more easily than natural appetite could be led on. But there’s also something in it which makes it easier to stop at the natural level and mistake it for the heavenly. Brass is mistaken for gold more easily than clay is.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
The Great Divorce
Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means, at the point of highest reality. A chastity or honesty, or mercy, which yields to danger will be chaste or honest or merciful only on conditions. Pilate was merciful till it became risky.
Every event which might claim to be a miracle is, in the last resort, something presented to our senses.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
Miracles, ch. 1