On Abraham Lincoln’s 212th birthday, which happens to be the day that lawyers mount a defense of the impeached 45th president, a member of a Republican party that the 16th president of the United States would not recognize, it feels (truly) totally appropriate to quote Lincoln’s statements about democracy, elections and character:

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” 

“I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to what light I have.”

“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.”

“Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.”

“You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.” 

“Character is like a tree and reputation its shadow. The shadow is what we think it is and the tree is the real thing.”

“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”

“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts, and beer.” 

“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”