The true rule, in determining to embrace, or reject any thing, is not whether it have any evil in it; but whether it have more of evil, than of good. There are few things wholly evil, or wholly good. Almost every thing, especially of governmental policy, is an inseparable compound of the two; so that our best judgment of the preponderance between them is continually demanded.

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln

Related Quotes

If there should prove to be one real, living Free State Democrat in Kansas, I suggest that it might be well to catch him and stuff and preserve his skin as an interesting specimen of that soon-to-be-extinct variety of the genus Democrat.

— Abraham Lincoln

CatchDemocratFree

It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words, "And this too, shall pass away." How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction!

— Abraham Lincoln

ancient-wisdomimpermanence

This human struggle and scramble for office, for a way to live without work, will finally test the strength of our institutions

— Abraham Lincoln

HumanOfficePower

In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free, - honorable alike in what we give and what we preserve.

— Abraham Lincoln

FreeFreedomGiving

I will prepare and some day my chance will come.

— Abraham Lincoln