Abraham Lincoln buried a mother, two sons, and a nation’s peace before he ever became a symbol of strength. These Abraham Lincoln quotes about strength come from a man who knew hardship first-hand, not from theory.
Below you’ll find 60+ quotes on courage, resilience, and inner strength, grouped by theme so you can find the words that fit your moment right now.
Table of Contents
Abraham Lincoln Quotes About Inner Strength and Character
Character, Lincoln believed, is what a person truly is, not what others assume about them. These quotes about inner strength show how he judged a person’s worth.
Character is like a tree and reputation its shadow. The shadow is what we think it is and the tree is the real thing.
Whatever you are, be a good one.
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.
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.
Tact: the ability to describe others as they see themselves.
I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.
You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry.
If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?
It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.
I am a slow walker, but I never walk back.
To ease another’s heartache is to forget one’s own.
When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That’s my religion.
My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.
I laugh because I must not cry, that is all, that is all.
Every man’s happiness is his own responsibility.
Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.
Abraham Lincoln Quotes About Courage in Hard Times
Lincoln led the country through the Civil War, the bloodiest conflict in American history. These Abraham Lincoln quotes about courage reflect decisions made under real pressure, not comfortable ones.
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.
Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.
You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.
A house divided against itself cannot stand.
We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies.
It often requires more courage to dare to do right than to fear to do wrong.
Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.
As our case is new, we must think and act anew.
If I am killed, I can die but once; but to live in constant dread of it, is to die over and over again.
Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way.
Nothing will divert me from my purpose.
I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.
Important principles may and must be inflexible.
If there is anything a man can do well, I say let him do it. Give him a chance.
I would rather be a little nobody, than to be an evil somebody.
Abraham Lincoln Quotes About Strength and Resilience
Lincoln failed at business, lost elections, and battled deep melancholy for most of his life. His quotes on resilience are proof that setbacks are not the end of the story.
When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.
You have to do your own growing no matter how tall your grandfather was.
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
I will prepare and some day my chance will come.
The best way to predict your future is to create it.
My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.
I am not concerned that you have fallen, I am concerned that you arise.
And this, too, shall pass away.
Half finished work generally proves to be labor lost.
Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today.
If we never try, we shall never succeed.
The probability that we may fall in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just; it shall not deter me.
Don’t worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition.
The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.
A tendency to melancholy, let it be observed, is a misfortune, not a fault.
Abraham Lincoln Quotes on the Strength of Leadership and Nation
Real strength, in Lincoln’s mind, wasn’t only personal. It also lived in families, communities, and the Union itself. These Abraham Lincoln quotes about strength connect individual grit to collective strength.
The strength of a nation lies in the homes of its people.
Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed.
America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.
The ballot is stronger than the bullet.
No man is good enough to govern another man, without that other’s consent.
Gold is good in its place, but living, brave, patriotic men are better than gold.
We cannot escape history.
The legitimate object of government is to do for the people what needs to be done, but which they cannot, by individual effort, do so well for themselves.
I desire to so conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall have at least one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside of me.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away people’s initiative and independence.
Force is all conquering, but its victories are short lived.
If people see the Capitol going on, it is a sign we intend the Union shall go on.
A nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure.
Our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
With malice toward none, with charity for all, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds.
FAQ’s
What is a famous quote about strength?
One of the most famous strength quotes is Lincoln’s line: “The strength of a nation lies in the homes of its people.” It’s widely shared because it ties personal strength to something bigger, family and community.
What famous quote did Abraham Lincoln say?
Lincoln is best known for saying, “With malice toward none, with charity for all,” from his second inaugural address. He’s also widely quoted for “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
What is the slogan of Abraham Lincoln?
Lincoln didn’t run on a single campaign slogan the way modern candidates do, but his 1860 campaign is closely tied to the phrase “Vote Yourself a Farm,” used by his party to appeal to working families.
What are 5 wise quotes?
Five widely respected Lincoln quotes are: “Whatever you are, be a good one,” “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe,” “The best way to predict your future is to create it,” “Character is like a tree and reputation its shadow,” and “I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true.”
What are famous quotes?
Lincoln’s most quoted lines include: “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” “The strength of a nation lies in the homes of its people,” “With malice toward none, with charity for all,” “Whatever you are, be a good one.”
Conclusion
Lincoln’s words still hold up because they came from a real life, not a comfortable one. Whichever quote you carry with you today, let it remind you that strength is built, not born, one hard day at a time.
Vicky ABROY is a writer, editorial curator, and lead researcher for AmericansQuotes.com. With a deep appreciation for the power of language, Vicky specializes in documenting, analyzing, and contextualizing iconic American speeches, literary excerpts, and historical quotations. Through meticulous research and engaging commentary, Vicky highlights the voices that have defined American thought, culture, and leadership across generations—helping readers discover the timeless wisdom hidden within famous words.
