Abraham Lincoln Quotes About Opinions

• A majority held in restraint by constitutional checks and limitations, and always changing easily with deliberate changes of popular opinions and sentiments, is the only true sovereign of a free people. Whoever rejects it does of necessity fly to anarchy or to despotism. Unanimity is impossible. The rule of a minority, as a permanent arrangement, is wholly inadmissible; so that, rejecting the majority principle, anarchy or despotism in some form is all that is left.

  Abraham Lincoln

  People, Majority, Principles

  Abraham Lincoln (1989). “Abraham Lincoln: Speeches & Writings Part 2: 1859-1865: Library of America #46”, p.220, Library of America

• We have all heard of Young America. He is the most current youth of the age. Some think him conceited, and arrogant; but has he not reason to entertain a rather extensive opinion of himself? Is he not the inventor and owner of the present, and sole hope of the future?

  Abraham Lincoln

  Conceited, Thinking, America

  Abraham Lincoln (2009). “Abraham Lincoln: Selected Speeches and Writings”, p.280, Library of America

• Public opinion in this country is everything.

  Abraham Lincoln

  Country, Government, Political

  Abraham Lincoln (1989). “Abraham Lincoln: Speeches & Writings Part 2: 1859-1865: Library of America #46”, p.57, Library of America

• Public opinion, though often formed upon a wrong basis, yet generally has a strong underlying sense of justice.

  Abraham Lincoln

  Strong, Justice, Public Opinion

• A universal feeling, whether well or ill founded, cannot be safely disregarded.

  Abraham Lincoln

  Feelings, Society, Public Opinion

  Address on the Repeal of the Missouri Compromise, delivered 16 October 1854, Peoria, Illinois

• Our government rests in public opinion. Whoever can change public opinion, can change the government, practically just so much.

  Abraham Lincoln

  Freedom, Government, Public Opinion

  Abraham Lincoln (2008). “The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln”, p.385, Wildside Press LLC

• We cannot ask a man what he will do, and if we should, and he should answer us, we should despise him for it. Therefore we must take a man whose opinions are known.

  Abraham Lincoln

  Men, Answers, Opinion

  Conversation with George Sewall Boutwell concerning the nomination of Salmon P. Chase to the U.S. Supreme Court, reported by Boutwell in his "Reminiscences of Sixty Years in Public Affairs", vol. 2, (p. 29), 1902.

• No policy that does not rest upon some philosophical public opinion can be permanently maintained.

  Abraham Lincoln

  Philosophical, Public Opinion, Doe

  Abraham Lincoln (2008). “The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln”, p.17, Wildside Press LLC

• I am approached with the most opposite opinions and advice, and that by religious men, who are equally certain that they represent the Divine will. ... I hope it will not be irreverent for me to say that if it is probable that God would reveal his will to others, on a point so connected with my duty, it might be supposed he would reveal it directly to me... These are not, however, the days of miracles ... I must study the plain physical facts of the case, ascertain what is possible, and learn what appears to be wise and right.

  Abraham Lincoln

  Wise, Religious, Men

  Reply to an Emancipation Memorial (1862), published in "The Life and Public Services of Abraham Lincoln" edited by Henry Jarvis Raymond and Francis Bicknell Carpenter, (p. 255), 1865.

• It is the man who does not want to express an opinion whose opinion I want.

  Abraham Lincoln

  Men, Doe, Want

  Abraham Lincoln, James Baird McClure (2006). “Anecdotes and Stories of Abraham Lincoln”, p.145, Stackpole Books

• I am approached with the most opposite opinions and advice, and that by religious men, who are equally certain that they represent the Divine will. I am sure that either the one or the
  other class is mistaken in that belief, and perhaps in some respects both.

  Abraham Lincoln

  Religious, Men, Opposites

  Abraham Lincoln “Speeches & Letters of Abraham Lincoln, 1832-1865 by Abraham Lincoln”, Lulu.com

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