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6th out of 90 books
—
3 voters
Great Speeches
Representative collection of 16 masterly orations, correspondence, including "House Divided" speech at the Republican State Convention (1858), the First Inaugural Address (1861), the Gettysburg Address (1863), the Letter to Mrs. Bixby (1864), expressing regret over the wartime deaths of her 5 sons, and the Second Inaugural Address (1865). Includes 2 selections from the Com...more
Paperback, 128 pages
Published
November 20th 1991
by Dover Publications
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I've recently read and enjoyed a couple of biographies of Abraham Lincoln. These biographies frequently quoted various speeches, proclamations, and letters by Lincoln, and I decided I wanted to read some of the major ones in their entirety. Thus, I turned to the very reasonably priced Dover Thrift Editions collection of 16 of Lincoln's best known works.
There are many free online sources for Lincoln's works, so why purchase this one? Well, Dover's production values are solid and the price is prac...more
There are many free online sources for Lincoln's works, so why purchase this one? Well, Dover's production values are solid and the price is prac...more
Abraham Lincoln knew better than any man of his day the power of words. All one has to do is read either of his innaugural speeches or to reflect upon the Gettysburg address to know that he lived in a time when words mattered and held more weight than they do today. Lyrical, well thought-out, meaningful...these speeches reflect not only the man and his time, but a vision for the future that most had not the intelligence or empathy to see. The reader can see the man evolve from a local politician...more
Rather than accept the interpretations and definitions of Lincoln in the eyes of the hundreds of biographers who have studied him, I encourage everyone to learn of the man and his beliefs through the study of his own words. He certainly has left us with a sufficient body of work from which to derive a solid portrait.
While the Gettysburg address is renowned as the most inspiring, I found that the most telling and impressive speech in the collection is the first - the 1838 address to the Illinois...more
While the Gettysburg address is renowned as the most inspiring, I found that the most telling and impressive speech in the collection is the first - the 1838 address to the Illinois...more
Hugely helpful in learning history and the thought process behind early American politics. It's interesting to read this and compare it as a writer, to someone who verbally spoke the words and made conscious decision about the verbiage with that considered. Very interesting.
Sep 01, 2009
Penelope Evans
is currently reading it
not as poetic as i thought it would be... definately more detailed than today's political speeches... need to catch up on my history...
doesn't have a lot of sweeping generalizations... lot of facts...
doesn't have a lot of sweeping generalizations... lot of facts...
I enjoyed some of these speeches and found others very dry. But it felt like a window into another world, the spoken and writtern word was so important, but not the "media glitz".
May 10, 2013
Markhiller
added it
Great book to actually pull out to read not just excerpts from Lincolns great speeches but the complete text. The Gettesbugh Addres, his inaguaral addresses, etc.
Representative collection of 16 masterly orations, correspondence, including "House Divided" speech at the Republican State Convention (1858), the First Inaugural Address (1861), the Gettysburg Address (1863), the Letter to Mrs. Bixby (1864), expressing regret over the wartime deaths of her 5 sons, and the Second Inaugural Address (1865). Includes 2 selections from the Common Core State Standards Initiative.
More than the founding documents of the 18th century Lincoln's presidential speeches spoke America into being. Statesmanship on the epic scale.
The most accurate way to describe this book is: It was like living all the conflict Lincoln had to face. This book is an easy favorite.
Wonderful little book for Lincoln enthusiasts. Of great historical value, it looks into the heart and character of the great man himself.
Abrabeast was a master with words.
i cant express in words...
An enjoyable read that inspired me to study more American History!
Mr. Lincoln had a wonderful way with words that needs to be the envy of every speech writer in America. But more importantly, his speeches remind us in this political season what America is all about or what we need to be about.
I am very glad that I took the time and put forth the effort on this very good read.
PS - It does take time to read this book. His level of writing is far about 6 or 8 grade.
I am very glad that I took the time and put forth the effort on this very good read.
PS - It does take time to read this book. His level of writing is far about 6 or 8 grade.
A great companion to TOR.
Can you believe I would deign to give Abraham Lincoln only four start? I was surprised by some of the stances contained in his speeches, and frankly disillusioned by the way he is depicted in our history books. That said, it made me want to read more about the man in his time.
A short volume containing some interesting speeches from Lincoln. I have to admit that his shortest ones are also the most famous.
CW973.7Lin
abe is awesome
May 14, 2013
Monayajo Adeola
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Abraham Lincoln was the sixteenth President of the United States, serving from March 4, 1861 until his assassination. As an outspoken opponent of the expansion of slavery in the United States, Lincoln won the Republican Party nomination in 1860 and was elected president later that year. During his term, he helped preserve the United States by leading the defeat of the secessionist Confederate Stat...more
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“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.”
—
219 people liked it
“At this second appearing to take the oath of the Presidential office there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first. Then a statement somewhat in detail of a course to be pursued seemed fitting and proper. Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the great contest which still absorbs the attention and engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is new could be presented. The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself, and it is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured.
On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it, all sought to avert it. While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, insurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war--seeking to dissolve the Union and divide effects by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came.
One-eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union even by war, while the Government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it. Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with or even before the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. "Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh." If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."
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 lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”
—
79 people liked it
More quotes…
On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it, all sought to avert it. While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, insurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war--seeking to dissolve the Union and divide effects by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came.
One-eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union even by war, while the Government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it. Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with or even before the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. "Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh." If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."
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 lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”
Aug 31, 2009 04:54am